Bavayia ornata
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Bavayia ornata faces severe threats from nickel mining operations that have destroyed much of its restricted forest habitat on New Caledonia's ultramafic soils. The species' extremely limited range makes it highly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while introduced predators such as cats and rats pose additional pressure on remaining populations. Fire events, both natural and human-induced, further threaten the specialized maquis vegetation communities this gecko depends upon.
Habitat
This endemic gecko inhabits specialized maquis shrubland and low forest on ultramafic soils in New Caledonia's mining regions. It requires intact native vegetation communities with adequate shelter sites among rocks and low shrubs on mineral-rich substrates.
