Research

Montane Marble-throated Skink Marmorosphax montana

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Description: A moderately large, gracile, species of skink growing to a body length of 53mm, with moderately well developed limbs and a tail 150% of the body. Colour brown with scattered dark markings, sometimes forming irregular, narrow, transverse bars, and scattered dark markings on the underside of the body and throat. The scales of the body have three distinct keels.

Natural distribution: Known only from high elevation at Mt Ouin in the southern ranges.

Distribution within Province Sud: see above.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat to isolated closed forest on Mt Ouin through activities associated with mining (particularly gully forests affected by mining spoil) leading to a decline in area, extent and quality habitat
• moderate to high level of threat to closed forest edge on Mt Ouin through repeated firing of adjacent maquis shrubland habitat leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat

Maquis shrubland - low and heath-like vegetation.

Conservation status: Marmorosphax montana has an extremely restricted distribution (<100km2) and on this criteria alone could be classified as Vulnerable. Species restricted to isolated remnant forest at high elevation are highly susceptible to catastrophic impact from external forces such as the introduction of exotic pests and wildfires, and require pro-active conservation management that anticipates potential threats. The species could be placed at a higher level of threat if mining activity in the region causes a decline in the area, extent and/or quality of the small, isolated area of mountain closed forest from which this species is known.

Future research required:

• undertake targeted survey work to determine whether the species occurs in other areas of high elevation closed forest on ultramafic peaks
• assess the extent of decline in area and/or quality of potential high elevation forest habitat on the ultramafic peaks with regard to the impact of fire on the forest edge
• assess the extent of decline in area and/or quality of potential high elevation forest habitat on the ultramafic peaks with regard to activities associated with mining.

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

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002