Agatea lecointei is an endemic liana of New Caledonia, where it has only been recorded from the base of Katepahié massif in the northwest of Grande Terre. It was only collected one time by MacKee in 1977, and was not found again during recent searches. It was collected from open scrubland on a sepentine substrate around 50 m asl. The main identified threat is linked to habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires. Given the ongoing threats and it not being found in recent searches, there is a fairly high probability that the species could be extinct, but it is possible that it may persist. Only ever reported from a single location, its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are both estimated to be 4 km², if it were to be still extant. Therefore, A. lecointei is listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) (CR(PE)) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v).

Geographical area

Agatea lecointei is endemic to New Caledonia where it has only been found from the base of Katepahié massif in the northwest of Grande Terre. It was only collected one time by MacKee in 1977, and was not found again during recent searches.

Population

The population size is not known.

Habitat

Agatea lecointei has been reported from open scrubland on a serpentine substrate at around 50 m asl.

Threats

The main identified threat is linked to habitat damage by uncontrolled bushfires, causing a continuous decline in the quality of habitat and, if it is still extant, the number of mature individuals.

Conservation

The species is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does not occur in any protected area. It is recommended to pursue the search of the species at the base of Katepahié massif and estimate its population size and its threats.

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.

Munzinger J. 2001. Two new species of Agatea (Violaceae) endemic to New Caledonia, with some taxonomic notes and a key to New Caledonian species. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society(137 (1)) , p.91-97.

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., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Héquet, V., Lagrange, A., Lannuzel, G., Laudereau, C., McCoy, S., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Pillon, Y.

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