Research

Bauer's Chameleon Gecko Eurydactylodes agricole

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Description: A small species of gecko growing to a body length of 55mm and tail 115% that of the body. It has moderately broad toes and large plate like scales on the head and neck, with a distinctive groove running from the corner of the mouth towards the ear. The colour pattern on the body is typically pale with a mottling of darker markings sometimes forming a pattern of transverse bars across the body.

Natural distribution: Restricted to the far north of the island.

Distribution within Province Nord: Recorded from several locations north and south of Koumac on the west coast, and tentatively from Mt Panie on the north-east coast.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat to closed forest/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 leading to degradation, loss, and further fragmentation of habitat
• moderate to high level of threat to maquis shrubland through repeated firing leading to a decline in quality of habitat
• moderate to high level of threat to sclerophyll and low elevation closed forest edge on the west coast through repeated firing of adjacent savannah habitat leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat
• potentially moderate level of threat to populations inhabiting maquis shrubland on ultramafic soils through activities associated with mining leading to a decline in area, extent and quality habitat
• generally low level of threat from exotic pests such as rats and cats (predation of adults, young and eggs)
• localised but potentially intensive threat by collection for illegal trade at readily accessible sites

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

Conservation status: Eurydactylodes agricole is recorded from four locations in the north-west of the island in both maquis shrubland and riverine gallery forest habitats, and one (possibly three) locations on the north-east coast in closed forest habitat, indicating a relatively broad range of preferred habitats. Maquis shrubland and gallery forest on the west and north coasts are fragmented, and each site record potentially represents an isolated sub-population, as does the population in closed forest on the eastern slopes of the Panie Range.

The species overall distribution as it is known satisfies the criteria for a small distribution (area of occupancy 500-1000km2), but it is likely to be recorded from additional locations with further survey work. Threats leading to a continuing decline in maquis and forest habitat on the west and north coasts have been identified. The threat posed by introduced Fire Ants on populations in dry closed forest habitats (gallery forest and sclerophyll forest) is significant. Also of particular concern is the affect of fire on maquis shrubland, (loss of diversity and domination by Acacia) leading to simplification of the habitat. Infestations of Crazy Ants in maquis shrubland in Province Sud has only been recently been identified as a potential threat to lizard diversity, and could pose a similar threat to populations of E. agricole in maquis in the north of the island.

Given the species overall small distribution, much of which consists as small, fragmented isolates, in combination with a suite of threats which impact on the area, extent and/or quality of habitat, E. agricole satisfies the criteria to be categorised as Vulnerable.

Future research required:

• undertake targeted survey work to more comprehensively document the species overall distribution, particularly on the Panie Range
• assess the extent of decline in area and/or quality of sclerophyll forests and gallery forest habitat with regard to the impact of fire on the forest edge
• assess the spread of the fire ant on populations in sclerophyll forests and gallery forests

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002