Five-lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11

Technical Summary: Carolinian population

Eumeces fasciatus –  Carolinian population

Five-lined skink – Scinque pentaligne

Range of Occurrence in Canada:

Southwestern Ontario

Extent and Area Information

Extent of occurrence (EO) (km²)
3,946 km²
Specify trend in EO
Declining
Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?
No
Area of occupancy (AO) (km²)
88 km²
Specify trend in AO
Declining
Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?
No
Number of known or inferred current locations
5
Specify trend in #
Declining
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?
No
Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat
Decline

Population Information

Generation time (average age of parents in the population)
2 years
Number of mature individuals
1,495 (based on estimates of N e )
Total population trend:
Declining
% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.
Unknown
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?
Unknown
Is the total population severely fragmented?
Yes
Specify trend in number of populations
Declining
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?
No
List populations with number of mature individuals in each:
  • Point Pelee National Park
  • Rondeau Provincial Park
  • Pinery Provincial Park (?)
  • Oxley Poison Sumac Swamp (?)
  • Walpole Island (?)

Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)

  • habitat alteration and loss
  • microhabitat alteration
  • illegal collecting
  • depredation by high populations of raccoons and coyotes and by dogs and cats
  • road mortality

Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)

Status of outside population(s)?
USA: Secure. Variable among U.S. jurisdictions but less secure among northern jurisdictions.
Is immigration known or possible?
No
Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?
Unknown
Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?
Unknown
Is rescue from outside populations likely?
Unlikely

Quantitative Analysis

N/A

Current Status

COSEWIC: Special Concern (1998); Carolinian population: Endangered (2007)

Status and Reasons for Designation

Status:  Endangered

Alpha-numeric code:  B1+2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v)

Reasons for Designation: The species is the only lizard in Eastern Canada. The Carolinian population occurs in only 4 or 5 small, completely isolated populations on the shores of lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron. Threats to this skink include loss and degradation of microhabitat, illegal collecting, increased depredation by racoons, coyotes, dogs and cats and increased mortality on roads. If any population is extirpated, because of isolation there is no chance of natural recolonization.

Applicability of Criteria

  • Criterion A: (Declining Total Population): Decline of ~60% but occurred over more than 3 generations.
  • Criterion B: (Small Distribution, and Decline or Fluctuation): EO and AO are small, and there are 4 or 5 widely separated, highly fragmented populations, declines in Area of Occupancy, Extent of Occurrence,, habitat, locations and numbers.
  • Criterion C: (Small Total Population Size and Decline): Small total population size and documented declines in population occurrence, but there is/are populations over 250 adults and a 20% decline in 5 years has occurred but only one population could be monitored.
  • Criterion D: (Very Small Population or Restricted Distribution): Could meet Threatened D2.
  • Criterion E: (Quantitative Analysis): Not applicable.

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