REPTILES OF THE ILES EPARSES, INDIAN OCEAN: INVENTORY, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSERVATION STATUS

We surveyed the Iles Eparses (Europa, Juan de Nova, Iles Glorieuses and Tromelin) in the Western Indian Ocean for terrestrial reptiles. We reviewed the literature and data on museum specimens, then used data recorded from field surveys and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria to analyze habitat occupation and to map the distribution of endemic species and subspecies for each island. Our field inventory revealed 11 species: four geckos are introduced or have uncertain status on these islands, while one gerrhosaurid and one gecko are considered native. Based on our new data and to obtain a national (French) conservation status, we propose IUCN categories for the following four skink taxa and one gecko species that are endemic for these islands: the Europa Snake-eyed Skink, Cryptoblepharus bitaeniatus (Near Threatened), the Juan de Nova Snake-eyed Skink, Cryptoblepharus caudatus (Critically Endangered), the Glorioso Snake-eyed Skink, Cryptoblepharus gloriosus gloriosus (Endangered), the Europa Speckle-lipped Skink, Trachylepis maculilabris infralineata (Vulnerable), and the Insular Dwarf Gecko, Lygodactylus insularis (Critically Endangered). We propose four of the endemic taxa for threatened status because they have a high extinction risk. The Valhalla Skink (Flexiseps valhallae), endemic to Iles Glorieuses, has not been rediscovered and we propose that its classification be Critically Endangered, possibly Extinct. Predation by invasive mammals poses a serious threat to the native herpetofauna, as does the degradation and destruction of habitats. We emphasize the need for the implementation of a conservation strategy with a biosecurity plan.