Sadlier R. A. auteur aut IRD Deuss M. auteur aut IRD Bauer A. M. auteur aut IRD Jourdan Hervé auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access A new genus and species of skink, Kuniesaurus albiauris, is here described from the Ile des Pins off southern New Caledonia. This new taxon possesses a unique suite of morphological apomorphies (scalation) that does not allow it to be placed in any existing Australasian eugongylid genus. It is known only from a single area in dense coastal forest on limestone, on the main island of the Ile des Pins. The species area of occupancy is restricted, and the habitat occupied under threat from the spread of the highly invasive Little Red Fire Ant Wasmannia auropunctata. These factors place this new skink at a level of risk sufficient for it to be listed as Critically Endangered under IUCN Red List criteria. The affinities of the lizard fauna of the Ile des Pins with respect to that present on southern New Caledonia are also discussed, most notably the absence from the Ile des Pins of taxa typically restricted to ultramafic surfaces. specialized Scincidae systematics new species biogeography conservation NOUVELLE CALEDONIE PINS ILE 080 082 73 1 123-141 2019 0030-8870 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074924 10.2984/73.1.6 0030-8870 [F B010074924] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074924 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/2019/02/010074924.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2019-03-06 2025-02-24 fdi:010074924 fre