CR

Rothschild's Skink

Paracontias rothschildi

Unknown

Overview

Rothschild's skink is a species of skinks. It is endemic to Madagascar.

Paracontias rothschildi faces severe threats from widespread deforestation and agricultural expansion across Madagascar's eastern rainforests. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while invasive plant species alter the forest floor microhabitat essential for this fossorial skink. Mining activities and slash-and-burn agriculture continue to reduce the remaining patches of suitable primary forest habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This fossorial skink inhabits the leaf litter and upper soil layers of Madagascar's eastern rainforests, particularly in primary forest areas with dense canopy cover. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions found in undisturbed forest floor environments with high humidity and organic matter accumulation.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical dry· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Rothschild's Skink classified as Critically Endangered?
Rothschild's Skink 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. Paracontias rothschildi faces severe threats from widespread deforestation and agricultural expansion across Madagascar's eastern rainforests. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while invasive plant species alter the forest floor microhabitat essential for this fossorial skink. Mining activities and slash-and-burn agriculture continue to reduce the remaining patches of suitable primary forest habitat.
Where does Rothschild's Skink live?
Rothschild's Skink occurs in Madagascar. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Rothschild's Skink?
The main threats to Rothschild's Skink are 1.3, 2.1, 3.2, and 5.3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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