Research

Blue-mouthed Skink Lioscincus novaecaledoniae

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Description: A moderate sized species of skink growing to a body length of 68mm, with a tail around 200% of the body, moderately well developed limbs, and smooth body scales. It is brown above with a distinctive pale hip-stripe over the hindlimbs and base of the tail and brown transverse markings underneath. The inside of the mouth is deep blue.

Natural distribution: Central and north-east coast and ranges, and mid west coast.

Distribution within Province Nord: A scattered distribution from the Houailou Valley and coast, north to Mt Aoupinie in the central ranges, and Tao on the northeast coast.

Distribution within Province Sud: There are two specimens in the Natural History Museum in Bonn, listed as from La Foa.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat with high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) at lower elevation sites
• moderate level of threat from logging of native forest and clearing of forest for timber plantations (Mt Aoupinie), leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of mid elevation forest habitat
• low level of threat to low elevation closed forest on the east coast from clearing for subsistence agriculture, leading to loss and further fragmentation of habitat
• low level of threat to closed forest edge through repeated firing of adjacent savannah habitat, leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat

Conservation status: The species distribution is small, it is known from five locations (area of occupancy <500 km2), each most likely representing a separate sub-population. The species is recorded from a range of habitats and has a broad but scattered distribution. Its' apparent rarity is difficult to explain, but indicates the species could have a specialized biology. Until more is known of the species it is here tentatively regarded as Vulnerable.

Future research required:

• undertake targeted survey work to more comprehensively document the species overall distribution
• survey work to assess the extent of decline in area and/or quality of the species preferred habitat once this is known
• survey work to assess the spread of the fire ant on populations in this habitat

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002