Research

Forêt Plate Dwarf Skink Nannoscincus humectus

Conservation status: Vulnerable

Description: A very small, elongate species of skink growing to a body length of 36mm with short limbs and digits, a short tail approximately equal in length to the body, and smooth body scales. Colouration is two-toned being lighter on top and darker at the sides.

Natural distribution: Known only from the ranges on the northwest drainage around Pouembout.

Distribution within Province Nord: Recorded only from Forêt Plate and Oua Tilou.

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
• high level of threat to closed forest edge through repeated firing of adjacent savannah woodland, leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat
• moderate level of threat from logging of native forest and clearing of forest for timber plantations (Foret Plate), leading to a decline in area, extent and quality of mid elevation forest habitat
• 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 humectus is a closed forest-dependant species with highly specific microhabitat requirements. The species distribution is small, it is known from only two locations (area of occupancy <500 km2) representing two sub-populations. It could to be recorded from additional locations within the region, but its distribution is still likely to remain as scattered isolates with a low overall area of occurrence. Because of its restricted distribution N. humectus is here conservatively classified as Vulnerable. The sub-population on Foret Plate could be placed at a higher level of threat if forestry activity in the region causes a decline in the area, extent and/or quality of the closed forest at this site.

Future research required:

• undertake targeted survey work to determine the species overall distribution in the north-west of the island
• 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

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