CR

Phoboscincus bocourti

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Phoboscincus bocourti faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to mining activities, particularly nickel extraction which has devastated large areas of New Caledonia's sclerophyll forests. Introduced species, especially feral pigs and cats, pose significant predation pressure on this ground-dwelling skink. Fire regimes altered by human activities have further degraded the specialized dry forest habitats this species requires for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This large skink inhabits dry sclerophyll forests and woodland areas of New Caledonia, particularly favoring areas with dense leaf litter and fallen logs. It occupies both primary and secondary forest habitats at elevations from sea level to approximately 400 meters.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryLegislationPolicies and regulations

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Phoboscincus bocourti classified as Critically Endangered?
Phoboscincus bocourti is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Phoboscincus bocourti faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to mining activities, particularly nickel extraction which has devastated large areas of New Caledonia's sclerophyll forests. Introduced species, especially feral pigs and cats, pose significant predation pressure on this ground-dwelling skink. Fire regimes altered by human activities have further degraded the specialized dry forest habitats this species requires for survival.
Where does Phoboscincus bocourti live?
Phoboscincus bocourti occurs in New Caledonia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Phoboscincus bocourti?
The main threats to Phoboscincus bocourti are 1.3, 12.1, 5.3, and 6.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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