CR

Kaala Striped Gecko

Dierogekko kaalaensis

Declining

Overview

Dierogekko kaalaensis, also known as the Kaala striped gecko, is a gecko endemic to Grande Terre in New Caledonia.

Dierogekko kaalaensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to mining activities and urban development in its extremely limited range in New Caledonia. The species' restriction to ultramafic substrates makes it particularly vulnerable to nickel mining operations that directly destroy its specialized habitat. Invasive species, particularly fire ants and feral mammals, pose additional pressure on this ground-dwelling gecko through predation and habitat modification.

Threat summary

Habitat

This gecko is endemic to ultramafic soils and associated shrubland vegetation in the Kaalé region of New Caledonia. It inhabits areas with specialized plant communities adapted to the unique mineral composition of serpentine and peridotite substrates.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· majorShrubland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Kaala Striped Gecko classified as Critically Endangered?
Kaala Striped Gecko 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. Dierogekko kaalaensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to mining activities and urban development in its extremely limited range in New Caledonia. The species' restriction to ultramafic substrates makes it particularly vulnerable to nickel mining operations that directly destroy its specialized habitat. Invasive species, particularly fire ants and feral mammals, pose additional pressure on this ground-dwelling gecko through predation and habitat modification.
Where does Kaala Striped Gecko live?
Kaala Striped Gecko 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 Kaala Striped Gecko?
The main threats to Kaala Striped Gecko are 5.3, 7.1, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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