Leiolopisma alazon
CR

Leiolopisma alazon

Declining

Photo: (c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Amphibians & Reptiles, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

Overview

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

Leiolopisma alazon faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in New Zealand. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while introduced predators such as rats, cats, and mustelids pose significant predation pressure on remaining populations. Climate change may further exacerbate habitat degradation and alter the microhabitat conditions this specialized skink requires for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered skink inhabits native grasslands, shrublands, and rocky outcrops in New Zealand's South Island. It requires specific microhabitat conditions including loose soil for burrowing and adequate vegetation cover for thermoregulation and protection from predators.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Leiolopisma alazon classified as Critically Endangered?
Leiolopisma alazon 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. Leiolopisma alazon faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in New Zealand. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while introduced predators such as rats, cats, and mustelids pose significant predation pressure on remaining populations. Climate change may further exacerbate habitat degradation and alter the microhabitat conditions this specialized skink requires for survival.
Where does Leiolopisma alazon live?
Leiolopisma alazon occurs in Fiji. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Leiolopisma alazon?
The main threats to Leiolopisma alazon are 11.1, 5.3, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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