Bermuda Skink (Plestiodon longirostris) Photo by Andrew Pettit
A newly published report on the population of the critically endangered Bermuda skink (Plestiodon longirostris) concludes that the remaining populations are still vulnerable.
“Although we identified two relatively large populations, the fluctuations we observed suggest they remain vulnerable and may not be viable in the long term without management (eg. creation of artificial burrows for both seabirds and skinks, predator control and habitat restoration), especially during periods of low abundance or when population growth is slow.” (Turner, H., Griffiths, R., Outerbridge, M., Garcia, G. 2019)
The report recommends that monitoring and conservation efforts continue.
One of the rarest lizards in the world, the Bermuda skink is given our highest legislative protection as a Level 1 protected species under the Protected Species Act (2003).
Click on the link provided to download the full report via the Cambridge University Press.