Research

Greer's Dwarf Skink Nannoscincus greeri

Conservation status: Endangered

Description: A very small, elongate species of skink growing to a body length of 34mm with short limbs and digits, a short tail approximately equal in length to the body, and weakly grooved body scales. Colour is light to mid brown with scattered dark flecks.

Natural distribution: Central east coast and ranges.

Distribution within Province Nord: Known only from the Houailou Valley, Pic d'Amoa, and Poindimie.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat to closed forest populations with high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) causing significant decline in abundance
• moderate level of threat to closed forest edge through repeated firing of adjacent savannah habitat
• low to moderate level of threat to populations in low elevation closed forest on the east coast from clearing for subsistence agriculture leading to loss and further fragmentation of habitat
• localised but intensive decline in area, extent and quality of closed forest habitat adjacent to urban development at Poindimie
• localised but potentially intensive decline in area, extent and quality of closed forest habitat from exotic pests such as pigs (high levels of disturbance of areas of the forest floor and of shelter sites)

Conservation status: Nannoscincus greeri is a closed forest-dependant species with highly specific microhabitat requirements, its distribution is small being known from only three locations (area of occupancy <500 km2) representing two sub-populations. While the recent discovery of the species in mid elevation closed forest on Pic d'Amoa indicates the species still persists in appropriate habitat in the region, its longterm survival at lower elevations is less certain. At Mt Koyaboa, bordering the township of Poindimie, the species appears to have undergone a significant decline with recent climatic changes. Since its initial discovery on the foothills of the mountain in 1985 it has not been sighted since despite several attempts to locate the species. Over the past decade the area has been subject to an increased threats, including the severe impact of the El Nino drought in the mid 1990's, and more recently increased urban development in the foothills of Mt Koyaboa. Because of the species apparent suseptability to adverse climatic conditions, the threat posed by Fire Ants on low elevation closed forest, and the localised but intense impact of development on one of three only known sites, N. greeri is here categorised as Endangered.

Future research required:

• undertake targeted survey work to determine the species overall distribution in the region
• assess the extent of decline in area and/or quality of forest habitat in which it occurs, particularly with regard to the impact of fire on the forest edge
• assess the extent of spread of the Fire Ant at known sites and nearby closed forest habitat in the region

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002