Cryptoblepharus ater

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	SCINCIDAE

Scientific Name:

Cryptoblepharus ater

Species Authority:

(Boettger, 1913)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Grande Comores Snake Eyed Skink, Snake-eyed Skink

Synonym/s:

Ablepharus boutonii subspecies ater Boettger, 1913

Ablepharus boutonii subspecies atra Boettger, 1913

Cryptoblepharus boutonii subspecies atra (Boettger, 1913)

Taxonomic Notes:

The specific status of Cryptoblepharus spp. is not completely accepted and most species are considered as subspecies by many authors (Rocha et al. 2006).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Data Deficient ver 3.1
Year Published:	2010
Assessor/s:	Ineich, I.
Reviewer/s:	Böhm, M., Collen, B. & Ram, M. (Sampled Red List Index Coordinating Team)
Contributor/s:	De Silva, R., Milligan, H.T., Wearn, O.R., Wren, S., Zamin, T., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Lewis, S., Lintott, P. & Powney, G.
Justification: Cryptoblepharus ater has been listed as Data Deficient. It occurs on only one small island that is suffering from high rates of habitat loss due to the conversion of forest to agriculture. However, it is unknown if this habitat loss is causing a population decline in C. ater because this species is not solely arboreal. Further research into the impact that the threats are having on this species should be carried out before a more accurate assessment of its conservation status can be made.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species inhabits the Grand Comore Island, in the Comoros (Rocha et al. 2006). The area in which this species is distributed is approximately 1,053 km².
Countries:	Native: Comoros
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	No population information is available for this species.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The vegetation of the Comoro Islands is dominated by moist evergreen forest and giant heaths. Species of this genus are known to be partially arboreal or rock-dwelling (Rocha et al. 2006).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Deforestation in the Comoros between 1990-1995 has been estimated at 5.8%, the fourth highest rate globally (Sewall et al. 2003). The main causes of this deforestation have been identified as the increasing need for subsistence farmland and fuel-wood, which is exacerbated by an annual projected human population growth of 2.5% until 2015 (World Bank Group 2000 in Sewall et al. 2003). However, the impact that habitat change is having on this species is not yet known.

Major Threat(s):

Deforestation in the Comoros between 1990-1995 has been estimated at 5.8%, the fourth highest rate globally (Sewall et al. 2003). The main causes of this deforestation have been identified as the increasing need for subsistence farmland and fuel-wood, which is exacerbated by an annual projected human population growth of 2.5% until 2015 (World Bank Group 2000 in Sewall et al. 2003). However, the impact that habitat change is having on this species is not yet known.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. However, Louette et al. (2004) report that reptiles are partially protected in Comoros. Further research is needed on the population numbers and habitat status of this species, along with a better understanding of the impact that habitat change has on the species' population.

Conservation Actions:

There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. However, Louette et al. (2004) report that reptiles are partially protected in Comoros. Further research is needed on the population numbers and habitat status of this species, along with a better understanding of the impact that habitat change has on the species' population.

Citation:	Ineich, I. 2010. Cryptoblepharus ater. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 June 2013.
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