Research

Ornate Bavayia Bavayia ornata

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Description: A medium species of gecko growing to a body length of 69, a long slender tail 110% that of the body, and moderately broad toes. The colour pattern on the body is typically dark brown above with 4-5 darker transverse blotches above between the fore and hindlimb, and numerous pale spots along the sides of the body.

Natural distribution: Far north-east ranges of New Caledonia.

Distribution within Province Nord: Known only from Mt Panie on the Panie Range.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat with high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) at the species lower elevational limits
• moderate level of threat to closed forest edge through repeated firing of adjacent savannah habitat on the east side of the Panie range leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat
• moderate level of threat from exotic pests such as rats and cats (predation of adults, young and eggs)

Conservation status: Bavayia ornata has a very small distribution on northern ranges represented by a single population with an area of occupancy of <10km2. The forest in this region is some of the least disturbed and most pristine closed forest habitat in New Caledonia. However, it is so far only known from forest at lower elevations ie. 400m asl. and lower, and it is the lower elevation forest that is most at risk from the threats listed above. Given the species extremely small distribution and the presence of several levels of threat Bavayia ornata is here categorised as Vulnerable.

Future research required:

• undertake targeted survey work to more comprehensively document the species overall distribution on the Panie Range
• assess the extent of decline in area and/or quality of forest habitat in which it occurs, particularly with regard to the impact of fire on the forest edge at lower elevation on the eastern side of the range
• assess the spread of the fire ant on the range

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