Mission statement

The IUCN Skink Specialist Group (SSG) aims to complete Red List assessments for all skink species to identify species with high extinc-tion risk, determine the factors underlying high extinction risk, develop strategies to manage risk and improve the status of threatened skink species, and coordinate conservation manage-ment for threatened skink species.

Projected impact for the 2017-2020

quadrennium

By the end of 2020, we anticipate making substantial progress towards assessing all remaining non-assessed species, coordinating re-assessment of species as their assess-ments expire, and coordinating the assess-ment of newly described species. We aim to promote and foster collaboration among the world’s skink experts and provide an avenue for regular interaction and collaboration (annual newsletter, website, email list, assessment workshops, skink conferences). We aim to: (i) conduct analyses to determine the factors underlying extinction risk in skinks; (ii) identify regions, and taxonomic groups within skinks, that have elevated extinction risk; and (iii) deter-mine the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are associated with extinction risk in skinks. This will be communicated via scientific publications, regional assessment reports, our website, and through the popular media.

Targets for the 2017-2020 quadrennium

Assess

Red List: (1) complete assessment of all described skink species; (2) complete re-as-sessment of all skink species with expired assessments; (3) complete assessments for all newly described skink species.

Research activities: (1) assess the current conservation status of skinks globally; (2) deter-mine the biogeography of skinks globally.

Communicate

Communication: launch a website for the Specialist Group (Internal Grants 2019).

Activities and results 2020

Assess

Red List

i. Substantial progress has been made towards assessment of all described skink species in 2020. We have updated the list of described skink species (1,725 species are recognised by the SSG). We have 20 volunteers helping to prepare draft assessments for species. We have prepared a list of 136 skink species that remain to be assessed as at the completion of the first Global Reptile Assessment (GRA). (KSR #1)

ii. The SSG reviewed the re-assessment of the skinks from the Seychelles and is involved in the upcoming reassessment of the skink species from Europe. We have made a list of the 335 skink assessments that are more than 10 years old or will expire over the next three years. Draft re-assessments will be prepared for as many of these species as possible during 2021–2022. (KSR #1)

IUCN SSC

Skink

Specialist Group

David Chapple

2020 Report

Chair

David Chapple (1)

Red List Authority Coordinator

Shai Meiri (2)

Location/Affiliation(1) School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Australia(2) School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

Number of members

155

Social networks

Twitter: @skinks_IUCNWebsite: https://www.skinks.org

iii. The SSG keeps track of all new species descriptions and relevant taxonomic papers that are published. Draft assessments for new species are currently underway, as are re-as-sessments for species impacted by this taxo-nomic activity. (KSR #1)

Research activities

i. We have written a manuscript on the conser-vation status of the world’s skinks. It is currently in its second round of review at Biological Conservation and will hopefully be accepted for publication shortly. This publication will outline the current state of knowledge regarding the conservation of the world’s skinks and will act as the SSG’s action plan for the next five years. The publication outlines the SSG’s priorities over the next few years. (KSR #4)

ii. A paper is currently in preparation on the biogeography of the world’s skinks. The preparation of this study was delayed by the increased workload at Monash University due to COVID-19. We have just brought on new members to the Specialist Group to diversify our membership base and provide additional exper-tise for this publication. (KSR #4)

Acknowledgements

We thank the people that have volunteered to assist the Skink Specialist Group (Randini Dissanayake, Aponi Langsford-Smith, Austin Jenish, Elise Hore, Sophie Kase, Charis Jones, Caitlyn Benson, Sarah Adams, Daniella Conser, Thomas Madarevic, Amy Nelson, Tysha Crowley-David, Jonathan Edwards, Alice Turner, Lucy Wotherspoon, Christina Paizis, Katherine Robertson, Nazifa, Christopher Vournazos, Kelsey Graham and Sanduni Katupothage). In particular, we thank the membership of the SSG for contributing valuable time and effort to Specialist Group activities. We thank Monash University (School of Biological Sciences) and Tel Aviv University (Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, and School of Zoology). David Chapple also thanks the Australian Research Council (grant FT200100108) for their support.

Summary of activities 2020

Components of Species Conservation Cycle: 1/5

Assess 5 |||||

Main KSRs addressed: 1, 4 KSR: Key Species Result

Least Concern Giant Legless Skink, Acontias plumbeus

Photo: Werner Conradie

Least Concern Eastern Pilbara Spiny-tailed Skink, Egernia epsisolus, Indee Stn, WA Photo: R. J. Ellis

Least Concern, Tribolonotus gracilis Photo: Fred Kraus