Research

Cryptic Litter Skink Caledoniscincus cryptos

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Description: A small, surface active species of skink growing to a body length of 45mm, with well developed limbs, and the scales of the body with three distinct ridges or keels. Colouration known only from the single adult male specimen which is dark brown with black facial colour and numerous pale dark-edged spots across the body forming a series of irregular transverse bars.

Natural distribution: Known from a single location in the central ranges.

Distribution within Province Nord: Recorded from near Col d'Amieu.

Threats:

• high level of threat to closed forest edge habitat, particularly remnant gully forest, through repeated firing of adjacent savannah habitat, leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat
• potentially moderate to high level of threat to closed forest populations with high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata), causing significant decline in abundance
• potentially moderate level of threat to other populations in the region from logging of native forest and clearing of forest for timber plantations, leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of mid elevation forest habitat

Conservation status: the known distribution for Caledoniscincus cryptos satisfies the criteria for a small distribution (area of occupancy <500 km2). The potential distribution of the species is expected to be limited, and it is likely to be recorded from additional nearby locations with further survey work.

Future research required:

• undertake targeted survey work to more comprehensively document the species overall distribution
• research to identify distinct geographic units
• survey work to assess the spread of the Fire Ant on populations in mid elevation closed forests

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