Research

Green-Bellied Tree Skink Lioscincus nigrofasciolatum

Conservation status: lower risk - least concern

Description: A large skink growing to a body length of 112 mm, with well developed limbs and a long tail up to 175% of the body, and a relatively flat, depressed head. Colouration is brown to olive above with dark, pale-edged markings forming a pattern of irregular transverse bars across the body, and a distinctive lime green colour to ventral surface. It has smooth body scales. It is largely arboreal, occuring in a range of natural and disturbed forest and shrubland habitat at all elevations.

Arboreal - animals which predominately live in or among trees.

Natural distribution: Widespread throughout New Caledonia over a wide latitudinal range, also present on offshore islands, the Isle des Pins, and Ouvea, Lifou and Mare Islands in the Loyalty Islands.

Distribution within Province Sud: Recorded from a number of scattered localities in the south of the province, from low to high elevation. There is a large gap between Mt Koghis north to La Foa where no records appear that most likely reflects a lack collecting in coastal and forest habitat of the ranges in this area.

Distribution within Province Nord: Recorded from scattered mid elevation sites in the central ranges, low elevation sites on the northeast and northwest coasts, and from the Belep Islands.

Distribution within Province Loyalties: Present on Ouvea, Lifou and Mare Island, most likely widespread on all three islands.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat to populations in sclerophyll forest and low elevation closed forest from high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) causing significant decline in abundance
• moderate to high level of threat to populations inhabiting sclerophyll and low elevation closed forest on the west coast from clearing for ranching or 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
• generally low level of threat from exotic pests such as rats and cats (predation of adults, young and eggs) on mainland populations

Conservation status: Secure. Given the relatively widespread distribution of the species, the broad range in elevation of habitats occupied, and generally low level of threats identified, it is not considered to be under any immediate threat and is most appropriately categorised as lower risk - least concern. Preliminary studies indicate the presence of fire ants has a negative impact on the arboreal forest dwelling gecko Bavayia cyclura. It is possible a similar impact might be experienced by other arboreal lizard species such as L. nigrofasciolatum.

Future research required:

• assessment of geographic variation in the species across its range

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002