Research

White-lipped Forest Skink Lioscincus steindachneri

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Description: A moderately large species of skink growing to a body length of 113mm, with a tail 175% of the body, moderately well developed limbs, and smooth body scales. It has a distinctive colour pattern of broad dark brown bands above, and a bold, broad, white stripe along the edge of the upper jaw to the ear.

Natural distribution: Central and northeastern ranges. The species is restricted to moist closed forest habitat, and in the central ranges in association with streamside habitat. It occurs over a broad altitudinal range.

Distribution within Province Nord: In the central ranges from Me Adeo near Bourail and Mt Aoupinie, and in the north-east ranges from Hienghene to Mt Ignambi.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat with high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) at lower elevation sites
• moderate to high level of threat to the quality of streamside habitat from forestry activities (Mt Aoupinie), by deposition of sediment carried in runoff from areas under harvesting operations
• 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 north-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
• generally low (but locally intensive) level of threat from exotic pests such pigs (high levels of disturbance of sheltering sites)

Conservation status: The species distribution is small, it is known from seven locations (area of occupancy <1,000 km2) representing three sub-populations. It is a closed forest dependant species and in the south of its range (central ranges) at least, is restricted to the margins of running streams. Because of its highly fragmented distribution, specialised biology, and the potential threats in the central ranges in particular, leading to a continued decline in area, extent and/or quality of closed forest habitat, the species is categorised as Vulnerable. It is likely to be recorded from other locations within the central ranges, but its overall area of occurrence is still likely to remain low. It is also possible the species will show levels of population sub-structuring.

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 low to mid elevation closed forests
• field research to assess the degree of dependence on stream side habitat in populations in the central ranges, and the extent of that habitat, and the threats to it

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002