Taxonomy
Asplenium pseudotenerum
Red List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 30/10/2019
Asplenium pseudotenerum is an endemic terrestrial fern from New Caledonia, where it is only known from two recent collections on Grande Terre. It grows in dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate up to 600 m asl. Main threats to this species include bushfires and urbanisation. Its extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) are 346 and 12 km², respectively, and the number of locations is estimated to be three. Therefore, A. pseudotenerum is listed as Endangered (EN) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v).
Geographical area
Asplenium pseudotenerum is endemic to New Caledonia, where there are collections on Grande Terre on Mt. Mou and Tango. It was discovered in the Bourail region in 1900, but has not been observed there since.
Population
Population size is unknown, but field observation indicate that this species is rare.
Habitat
This terrestrial fern grows in humid forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate up to 600 m asl.
Threats
Main threats to this species include urbanisation near Mt. Mou and bushfires at Plateau de Tango.
Conservation
A. pseudotenerum is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and does not occur in any protected areas. Prospection is strongly recommended on Grande Terre (including its type locality) to improve the knowledge of this species, which has been collected only twice since its discovery over a century ago.
Bibliography
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Brownlie G. 1969. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 03 : Pteridophytae.
Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin. 2019. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia..
Experts
Assessor(s): Amice, R., Butin, J., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Perrie, L., Suprin, B., Vandrot, H.
Reviewer(s): Rouhan, G.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.