Research

Garnier's Giant Skink Phoboscincus garnieri

Conservation status: Lower risk - least concern

Description: A large species of skink growing to a body length of 200 mm with moderately well developed limbs and tail 200% of the body. It has smooth body scales, and large sharply pointed teeth. The colour pattern consists of distinctive broad brown bands above and dark markings on the ventral surface.

Natural distribution: Widespread throughout New Caledonia over a wide latitudinal range, also present on offshore islands, and Lifou and Mare Islands in the Loyalty Islands. It is found in a range of habitats from disturbed coastal forest to high elevation closed forest and maquis shrubland.

Maquis shrubland - low and heath-like vegetation

Distribution within Province Sud: Scattered locations in the south of the Province.

Distribution within Province Nord: Recorded from low elevation sites along the north-east and north-west coasts, and the Belep Islands.

Distribution within Province Loyalties: Present on Lifou and Ouvea, most likely widespread on all three islands.

Threats:

• potentially high level of threat to populations in areas with high infestation levels of introduced Fire Ants (Wasmannia auropunctata) causing significant decline in abundance
• moderate level of threat to populations in low elevation closed forest on the west coast from clearing for ranching or agriculture, resulting in loss and further fragmentation of habitat
• low to moderate level of threat to populations in low elevation closed forest on the east coast from clearing for subsistence agriculture
• low level of threat to mid elevation forest for timber plantations resulting in a decline in area, extent and quality habitat
• low level of threat to closed forest edge through repeated firing of adjacent savannah habitat resulting in a decline in area, extent and quality of habitat
• generally low level of threat from exotic pests such as rats and cats (predation of adults, young and eggs)

Conservation status: Given of its widespread distribution over a broad range of habitat types and elevation combined with a relatively low level of threat to its long term survival, Phoboscincus garnieri is categorised as lower risk - least concern.

Future research required: none

Copyright © Australian Museum, 2002