Research

Pale-Striped Bavayia Bavayia septuiclavis

Conservation status: Lower risk - near threatened

Description: A small relatively stout species of gecko growing to a body length of 50 mm with a short tail 110% that of the body, and moderately broad toes. The colour pattern on the body is variable, typically brown above with a broad but usually obscure lighter vertebral stripe.

Natural distribution: southern New Caledonia.

Distribution within Province Sud: Restricted to Province Sud and ranging in distribution from the Plaine des Lacs north to Mt Ouin.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat to closed forest populations with high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) causing significant decline in abundance
• moderate to high level of threat to isolated closed forest on ultramafic soils through activities associated with mining (particularly gully forests affected by mining spoil) resulting in a decline in area, extent and quality habitat
• moderate to high level of threat to closed forest edge through repeated firing of adjacent maquis shrubland habitat resulting in a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat
• moderate level of threat to populations inhabiting gully maquis through repeated firing resulting in a decline in quality of habitat
• low to moderate level of threat to populations in low elevation closed forest on the west coast from clearing for ranching or agriculture resulting in loss and further fragmentation of habitat, and a similar level of threat to low elevation closed forest on the east coast from clearing for subsistence agriculture
• localised but potentially high level of threat from exotic pests such as rats and cats (predation of adults, young and eggs) on populations in closed forest habitat adjacent to urban development
• localised but potentially intensive decline in area, extent and quality of closed forest habitat adjacent to urban development (Mt Koghis)

Ultramafic - soils that are dominated by minerals high in magnesium and iron, and which tend to be dark-coloured rather than pale.
Maquis shrubland - low and heath-like vegetation

Conservation status: Bavayia septuiclavis is known from 11 locations representing 10 sub-populations over the south of the island. Because of its relatively broad distribution, the species does not satisfy the criteria required to place it at a level of threat. It is also likely to be recorded from additional locations with further survey work. It occurs mainly in closed forest habitat, but has also been recorded from small, isolated patches of gully maquis shrubland on the Plaine des Lacs. Its occurrence in gully maquis is most likely determined by a combination of factors, with availability and temperature of sheltering sites being of high importance. The forest and gully maquis habitat is highly fragmented, often small in size, and subject to a range of potential threats, and for these reasons the species is categorised as lower risk - near threatened.

The species absence from closed forest habitat at Kwa Neie in the far south of the island is difficult to explain but indicates a complex distribution in the region.

Future research required:

• general survey work to more comprehensively document the species overall distribution
• identification of distinct geographic units
• assessment of the extent of decline in area and/or quality of forest habitat in which the species occurs

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002