Tragus australianus is an autochtonous herb from New Caledonia, mainly distributed to the south west of Grande Terre with an extension at Ouaco in the north west. It occurs in herbaceous habitats and shrubland on volcano sedimentary, serpentine and calcareous substrates up to 200 m asl. This species seems to resist to overgrazing but it is threatened by invasive plants, invasive animals (rusa deer (Rusa timorensis), rabbits) and bushfires. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 1,558 and 52 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be seven. Therefore Tragus australianus is listed as Vulnerable (VU) under criteria B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v), with an continiuing decline estimated of the AOO, habitat quality and number of mature individuals.

Geographical area

Tragus australianus is an autochtonous herb from New Caledonia, mainly distributed to the south west of Grande Terre with an extension at Ouaco in the north west.

Population

Population size is unknown, but field observations indicate that this species is common.

Habitat

Tragus australianus occurs in herbaceous habitats and shrubland on volcano sedimentary, serpentine and calcareous substrates up to 200 m asl.

Threats

This species seems to resist to overgrazing but it is threatened by invasive plants, invasive animals (rusa deer (Rusa timorensis), rabbits) and bushfires.

Conservation

Tragus australianus is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in one protected area : Ile Leprédour.

Bibliography

Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. Le référentiel taxonomique Florical et les caractéristiques de la flore vasculaire indigène de la Nouvelle-Calédonie [The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia]. Adansonia sér 3(34) , p.177-219.

Butaud, J.-F. 2014. Flore des îles Loyauté (Nouvelle-Calédonie) : plantes patrimoniales, plantes envahissantes et espaces naturels remarquables.

Lormée N.; Cabalion P.; Hnawia E.S. 2011. Hommes et plantes de Maré.

Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin 2020. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia [continuously updated].

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Barrière, R., Bruy, D., Butaud, J., Cazé, H., Eltabet, N., Garnier, D., Laudereau, C.

Reviewer(s): Lannuzel, G.

Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Fourdrain, A.