Taxonomy
Red List Status -
Critically Endangered (CR) , assessed in 08/09/2017
Oxera sp. nov. "ouameniensis" is a woody climber endemic to New Caledonia, known from only one location in Ouaménie, in the southwest of Grande Terre. It occurs in dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary or ultramafic soils between 360 and 470 m asl. Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) are 4 km². This species is strongly threatened by invasive species, such as rusa deer (Rusa timorensis russa), goats (Capra hircus) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa), that contribute to habitat degradation. Field observations indicate that there are less than 50 mature individuals. Therefore, Oxera sp. nov. "ouameniensis" is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) under criteria B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v), C2a(i,ii) and D.
Geographical area
O. sp. nov. "ouameniensis" is endemic to New Caledonia. It is only known from Ouaménie, in the south west of Grande Terre.
Population
Field observations show that the population has less than 50 mature individuals.
Habitat
O. sp. nov. "ouameniensis" occurs in dense humid forest on volcano-sedimentary or ultramafic soil between 360 and 470 m asl.
Threats
This species is strongly threatened by invasive species, such as Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis), goats (Capra hircus) and feral pigs (Sus scrofa), that contribute to habitat degradation and a decline of the number of mature individuals.
Conservation
This species is not protected by any legislation in New Caledonia and it doesn't occur in any protected areas. This species would benefit from ex situ and in situ emergency conservation actions. It is proposed to monitor the population and to preserve it on a delimited site. Knowledge improvement on the species (multiplication tests) would also be needed for ex situ conservation.
Bibliography
Barrabé L, Karnadi-Abdelkader,G, Ounemoa,J,de Kok RPJ., Robert N, Gâteble,G. 2015. Recircumscription of Oxera (Lamiaceae: Ajugoideae) ta include Faradaya based on molecular and anatomical data. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society(179) , p.693-711.
Mabberley DJ, de Kok RPJ. 2004. Labiatae. In: Morat P,ed. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendance.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Gâteblé, G. 2016. Flore ornementale de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
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.
Experts
Assessor(s): Gâteblé, G., Barrabé, L., Fleurot, D., Amice, R., Cazé, H., Bruy, D., Héquet, V., Vandrot, H., Butin, J., Mandaoué, L., Haverkamp, C., Dumontet, V., Laudereau, C.
Reviewer(s): Meyer, S.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Warimavute, G.