Research

Speckled Litter Skink Caledoniscincus atropunctatus

Conservation status: Lower risk - least concern

Description: A small, surface active species of skink growing to a body length of 53 mm, with a tail 150% the length of the body, and well developed limbs. Colouration differs markedly between males and females but consists of shades of brown with males darker and with numerous pale spots overall, whereas females and young of both sexes are typically two-toned being light brown above and darker at the sides. The scales of the body have three distinct ridges or keels running along each scale.

Natural distribution: Widespread throughout New Caledonia over a wide altitudinal range, also present on the Isle des Pins, and Lifou and Mare Islands in the Loyalty Islands. It has also been recorded from southern Vanuatu. The species occurs in a range of natural and disturbed forest and shrubland habitat at all elevations.

Distribution within Province Sud: Recorded from a number of scattered locations in the north and south of the province, both coastal and mountain, and the Ile des Pins. There is a gap in distribution between Mt Ouin and Col d' Nassirah that most probably reflects a lack collecting in the ranges in this area.

Distribution within Province Nord: Recorded from mid elevation sites in the central ranges between Col d' Rousettes and Mt Aoupinie, low elevation sites on coastal ranges in the north-east from Poindimie to Mt Ignambi, and from near coastal ranges on the west coast.

Distribution within Province Loyalties: Known from sites on Lifou and Mare Island, probably widespread in forest habitat throughout both islands.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat to closed forest and sclerophyll forest populations with high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) causing significant decline in abundance
• moderate to high level of threat to populations in sclerophyll and low elevation closed forest on the west coast from clearing for ranching or agriculture resulting in loss and further fragmentation of habitat
• moderate level of threat to isolated high elevation 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
• low level of threat to populations in low elevation closed forest on the east coast from clearing for subsistence agriculture resulting in loss and further fragmentation of habitat
• low level of threat to mid elevation forest for timber plantations resulting in a decline in area, extent and quality habitat
• low level of threat to closed forest edge through repeated firing of adjacent savannah habitat resulting in a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat

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

Conservation status: Secure. Because of the relatively widespread distribution of the species over large areas of potentially suitable habitat away from disturbance it is not considered to be under any immediate threat. Preliminary studies indicate the presence of fire ants has a negative impact on forest dwelling Caledoniscincus austrocaledonicus. Preliminary studies indicate that in sclerophyll forest the presence of fire ants has a negative impact on Caledoniscincus austrocaledonicus, and it is possible a similar impact might be experienced by C. atropunctatus in forest habitat.

Future research required:

• identification of distinct geographic units
• assessment of the level of impact of introduced fire ants on populations in moist closed forest habitat

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002