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Oligosoma hoparatea sp. nov. (Figures 4, 5, 6) Holotype. NMNZ RE008536 (adult female) Mt Harper, Harper Range, Rangitata River, Canterbury, New Zealand; 43° 38' 16.5"S, 171° 03' 50.1"E; 1050 m; collected A.H. Whitaker, 26 February 2004. Paratypes (2 specimens). NMNZ RE008537; adult male/female; same collection data as holotype. NMNZ RE008538 (sub-adult); same locality data as holotype; collected T.R. Jewell, 8 October 2007. Note: the three type specimens are the only specimens currently known in research collections. Other live specimens were examined by the late AHW in the field. Diagnosis. Oligosoma hoparatea sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Oligosoma species by the following combination of characters: (a) interrupted subocular scale row; (b) mid-body scale rows>38; (c) fourth toe lamellae>25; (d) a body colouration consisting of prominent brown longitudinal stripes; (e) uniformly white ventral surface; and (f) white lateral stripe passing through the ear. It is most similar to Oligosoma longipes, which is its closest relative (Chapple et al. 2009) and with which it occurs syntopically (Chapple and Hitchmough 2016). These two species can be further distinguished by: (a) the presence of a darker mid-dorsal stripe in most O. hoparatea sp. nov. versus usually absent in O. longipes, (b) the dorsal surface without flecks or blotches in O. hoparatea sp. nov. versus well marked with darker flecks in O. longipes, (c) lateral stripes and bands smooth edged in O. hoparatea sp. nov. versus notched in O. longipes, (d) always two or more nuchal scales in O. hoparatea sp. nov. compared with usually one or fewer in O. longipes; (e) ventral surface uniformly white or cream in O. hoparatea sp. nov. versus white or greyish, often with some dark flecking in O. longipes, (f) series of enlarged scales on top of the front foot in line with the toes in O. hoparatea sp. nov. versus scales of diminishing size in O. longipes, and (g) enlarged precloacal scales wider than deep in O. hoparatea sp. nov. versus enlarged precloacal scales much deeper than wide in O. longipes. Description of Holotype. (where bilateral counts differ, the count for the right side is in parenthesis) Body elongate, oval in cross-section; forehead rounded, snout blunt; ear opening large, rounded, slightly higher than wide; limbs well-developed, pentadactyl; hind limbs 37% of SVL and 1.4× length of fore limbs, adpressed limbs meet; 4th front toe longer than 3rd. Rostral 1.6× wider than high, contacts 1 st supralabials, nasals and frontonasal; nasals widely separated, undivided; nostril in lower half and angled back and up; supranasals absent; frontonasal 1.6× wider than deep, contacts rostral, anterior loreals, prefrontals and frontal, narrow contact with frontal; prefrontals separated, contact with frontonasal, frontal, 1 st supraocular, 1 st supraciliary and anterior and posterior loreals; frontal 1.3× longer than wide, shorter (0.9×) than frontoparietals + interparietal, contacts 1 st and 2nd supraoculars; 4 supraoculars, 2nd largest, 2nd supraocular in broad contact with frontal; frontoparietals distinct, 1.1× longer than interparietal; parietals meet on left of midline, left parietal fragmented (small scale towards midline) and overlaps right parietal, parietals bordered by interparietal, frontoparietals, 4th supraocular, 2 postoculars, 2 temporals and nuchals; 3 pairs of nuchals, twice the width of adjacent dorsals; 2 loreals; anterior loreal largest, rhomboidal, contacts nasal, frontonasal, prefrontal, posterior loreal, 1 st and 2nd supralabial; posterior loreal subtriangular, contacts anterior loreal, prefrontal, 1 st supraciliary, lower preocular, 1 st subocular and 2nd supralabial (narrow contact); 2 preoculars, lower the largest; 9 supraciliaries, 1 st largest; 8 upper ciliaries, 7th largest, forming prominent eyelid; 12 lower ciliaries; lower eyelid with clear palpebral disc surrounded either side and below with granules; 5(6) suboculars, anterior largest, contacting subocular 2nd and 3rd supralabials (2nd subocular on right side is fragmented); subocular row interrupted by 6th supralabial; 2 postoculars; 2(1) primary temporals; 2 secondary temporals; 3 tertiary temporals; 8 supralabials, 6th supralabial under centre of eye; 2 postlabials; 8(7) infralabials, gradually increasing in size, 5th and 6th largest; mental 2.5× wider than deep; post-mental quadrangular, larger than mental, contacts 1 st and 2nd infralabials; 3 pairs of chinshields; anterior chinshields in broad contact, contact 3rd and 4th infralabials; second chinshields separated by one scale width (i.e three scales wide between infralabials) but two scales deep, contact 4th and 5th infralabials; posterior chinshields separated by 4 gular scales, contact 5th and 6th (5th) infralabials; one scale between 3 temporals and ear opening; ear with 3 prominent triangular lobules on the anterior margin, uppermost the largest, lower 2 small; granules on lower posterior margin of ear opening; dorsal body scales with 3–5 weak striations, lateral and ventral scales smooth; ventral scales largest (1.1× dorsals), laterals smallest (0.8× dorsals); 14 enlarged precloacal scales, 1.2× wider than deep, largest on midline, 1.3× larger than ventrals; 20 postcloacal scales, not enlarged; palmar granules domed; top of front feet with series of three enlarged scales in line with toes, scales on top of hind feet small. Premaxillary teeth enlarged (14) (28 maxillary teeth), curved. Measurements (given as percentage of snout–vent length). SVL 79.6 mm; ITL unknown (tail is regenerated); SF 32.3%, AG 61.7%, S-Eye 7.7%, D-Eye 3.8%, S-Ear 17.3%, D-Ear 2.4%, HL 15.1%, HW 9.2%, FL 25.9%, FFL 7.4%, HLL 36.7%, HTL 12.3%. Measurements (in mm; holotype with the variation shown in the type series in parentheses). SVL 79.6 (mean 67.2, range 54.0–79.6); SF 25.7 (mean 24.4, range 21.3-25.7); AG 49.1 (mean 38.9, range 28.0-49.1); S-Eye 6.1 (mean 5.1, range 4.5-6.1); S-Ear 13.8 (mean 12.6, range 11.8-13.8); EF 11.0 (mean 9.8, range 9.1-11.0); D-Eye 3.0 (mean 2.6, range 2.5-3.0); D-Ear 1.9 (mean 1.5, range 1.1 -1.9); HL 12.0 (mean 10.9, range 9.9–12.0); HW 7.3 (mean 6.2, range 5.6-7.3); FL 20.6 (mean 19.5, range 18.8-20.6); FFL 6.0 (mean 6.0, range 6.0-6.1); HLL 29.2 (mean 27.6, range 26.5-29.2); HTL 10.7 (mean 9.5, range 7.8-10.7); NS 3 (mean 3, range 2 -4). Variation (holotype with the variation shown in the type series in parentheses). Midbody scale rows 40 (mean 41, range 40-43); dorsal scale rows 96 (mean 90, range 80-96); ventral scale rows 103 (mean 97, range 89- 104); third finger scales 13 (mean 13, range 11-14); third finger lamellae 18/19 (mean 18, range 17-19); fourth toe scales 16 (mean 16, range 15-17); fourth toe lamellae 28 (mean 27, range 26-28). Colouration. This is quite similar among specimens, and is as follows: Mid-dorsal stripe continuous, becoming indistinct anteriorly. Stripe continues down tail, gradually becoming indistinct towards tip. Dorsal surface mid to dark brown, 2 scale rows wide, grading into darker stripe 2 half-scale rows wide. This is bordered by a pale dorsolateral stripe extending from behind head to base of tail, becoming indistinct thereafter. This pale strip extends into brown lateral band 3 scale rows wide, running from behind nostril through eye to base of tail, becoming indistinct thereafter, and bordered on upper and lower edges by a narrow dark brown stripe. The lower stripe is bordered below by a pale stripe, 2 half-scale rows wide running from below the eye, through the ear, above the limbs to stop just anterior to hind limbs. This band is bordered below by a darker band ½ scale rows wide. Soles of feet brown/dark brown, belly white or cream, unmarked. Throat white, unmarked. Outer surface of forelimbs brown, with indistinct pale stripe. There do not appear to be sexually dimorphic colour patterns. Juvenile colouration similar to that in adults. Etymology. The specific name is from the Maori hōpara, meaning belly or underside, and tea, meaning white, thus hōparatea or ‘white-bellied’ in reference to the uniquely uniform white ventral surface of many specimens of this skink. After consultation with the wider herpetological community, the Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand (SRARNZ) and the Department of Conservation revised the common name nomenclature for New Zealand reptiles in 2014. Here O. hoparatea sp. nov. was called the “Pukuma” skink. However in this paper the recommended common name is White-bellied Skink. This aligns with the wishes of the deceased author, AHW. Phylogeny and relationships. Using Neighbour-Joining, Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogeny analyses, Chapple et al. (2009) recognised eight major and well-supported clades within the New Zealand skink fauna. O. hoparatea sp. nov. was included with nine South Island taxa in Clade 1; within this clade it grouped closely with O. longipes (southern and northern taxa), O. nigriplantare (Peters) and the O. polychroma (Patterson & Daugherty) species complex.We include a cut-down version of Chapple et al.’s (2009) phylogenetic tree here (Figure 7). We found the Mt Somers O. hoparatea sp. nov. population to be 1.4% divergent for ND2 from the Mt Harper samples (holotype and one paratype) included in Chapple et al. (2009). Overall, O. hoparatea sp. nov. is most closely related to sympatric populations of O. aff. longipes ‘southern’, but the level of divergence (7.1%; uncorrected genetic distance, based on the ND2 mtDNA genes) clearly shows it is a distinct taxon with a divergence time estimated at approximately 5.4 Million years before present (MYBP) (Chapple et al. 2009). The southern (Canterbury) and northern (Marlborough) populations of O. longipes showed a similar level of divergence (8.2%) for ND2 indicating further diversity within this group of skinks. Distribution and abundance. O. hoparatea sp. nov. is currently known from four localities, with two on the northern slopes of Mt Harper, above Balmacaan Stream. At this site, O. hoparatea sp. nov. abundance is very low (0– 8 individuals encountered per site visit; observers typically spent several hours searching for emerged skinks using binoculars and the naked eye) and, judging by comparison of encounter rates during searches, appears to have declined since the species’ discovery. For example, no skinks were seen or caught during the most recent attempt to locate the species by visual searching and live trapping undertaken from 3–5 February 2017 (Dylan van Winkel, pers. comm.). During the original (February 2004) survey, O. hoparatea sp. nov. (one individual) was also observed in a nearby scree gully located In 2012, O. hoparatea sp. nov. was found in a scree gully on the Mt Somers Range, c. 20 km north-east of Mt Harper. Abundance at this site is also very low (0–4 individuals encountered per site visit). A fourth site was located c. 2 km north in 2014, consisting of a scree gully and scree slope connected by continuous scree habitat at higher (> 1400 m a.s.l.) elevations. Although the number of O. hoparatea sp. nov. observed per site visit was low (range: 6–14 individuals seen over 3–4 person-hours of searching: Unpubl. data), this locality appears to support the largest sub-population discovered to date. The distribution of O. hoparatea sp. nov. is patchy at all four sites and skinks appear to be absent from much of the habitat that appears to be suitable for them. However as Jewell & Morris (2011) point out, in general appearance and size O. hoparatea sp. nov. is very similar to O. maccanni (Patterson & Daugherty). Therefore it is possible that it has been mistaken for this ubiquitous species in other parts of its range, and may be more common than is believed. Ecology. To date, O. hoparatea sp. nov. has only been found in mobile scree habitat consisting of angular greywacke rocks, located within a narrow elevation range of c. 1000¯ 1250 m a.s.l. and warm (north-to-westfacing) aspects. Skinks are strongly associated with “vegetation islands” growing in more stable areas of the scree habitat, which are made up of indigenous divaricating shrub and vine species (including creeping pōhuehue Muehlenbeckia axillaris, matagouri Discaria toumatou, porcupine shrub Melicytus alpinus, mountain wineberry Aristotelia fruticosa, korokio Corokia cotoneaster, and Coprosma, Rubus, Clematis and Parsonsia species; Figures 2 and 3). Like the majority of New Zealand skink species, O. hoparatea sp. nov. is a diurnal heliotherm. Individuals are most easily found by scanning rocks on the periphery of the vegetation islands during the first sunny window of the day, once ambient temperatures that permit emergence are reached (±12¯14 °C). After an initial period of basking, skinks often move meters away from the vegetation islands to forage in adjacent scree. Based on the diets of its congeners and potential available food sources, O. hoparatea sp. nov. is likely to be omnivorous, supplementing its diet with the small fleshy fruits of divaricating shrubs and vines when these are seasonally available. Most New Zealand lizard species consume a variety of arthropod prey and frugivory is widespread (Chapple 2016, Wotton et al. 2016). Skinks have been seen stalking flies amongst mats of creeping pōhuehue. Although vigilant and agile, most observed attempts by O. hoparatea sp. nov. to capture flies by lunging were unsuccessful. Notably, O. hoparatea sp. nov. also includes skinks in its diet. One of the specimens collected in 2004 regurgitated a sub-adult skink (SVL 45 mm) of a smaller species (O. maccanni) following capture. The maximum SVL recorded for O. hoparatea sp. nov. is 91mm: Unpubl. Data. Syntopic lizard species that occur in the scree habitat of O. hoparatea sp. nov. at the type locality are O. waimatense, O. aff. longipes “southern”, O. maccanni, O. aff. polychroma clade 4, O. lineoocellatum (formerly O. aff lineoocellatum “central Canterbury ”; Melzer et al. 2017), Woodworthia “Southern Alps” and W. “pygmy”. This remarkable diversity (6 skink and 2 gecko taxa) represents the greatest species richness known from any site on the mainland of the South Island (Chapple & Hitchmough 2016). Four of the above species (the Woodworthia gecko species, O. maccanni and O. aff. polychroma clade 4) are relatively abundant at the type locality. On the Mt Somers Range, O. hoparatea sp. nov. co-exists with five of the above species (O. aff. longipes “southern”, O. maccanni, O. aff. polychroma clade 4, O. lineoocellatum and W. ‘Southern Alps’), and a sixth species (O. waimatense) occurs in the vicinity. Resource partitioning among the eight lizard species living in scree habitat at the type locality occurs via the time of their activity (diurnal for skinks; primarily nocturnal for geckos), micro-habitat use, and possibly diet. Although we have not conducted dietary studies, differences in lizard body sizes (maximum SVL ranges from 44 mm in W. “pygmy” to 114 SLV in O. waimatense: Unpubl. Data) are expected to influence the size of arthropod prey items taken. Three of the six skink species are saxicolous (restricted to rocky substrates; O. hoparatea sp. nov., O. aff. longipes “southern” and O. waimatense). These species vary in their micro-habitat use: O. aff. longipes “southern” and O. hoparatea sp. nov. are associated with vegetation islands whereas O. waimatense exhibits a preference for relatively bare areas of comparatively larger-sized scree (ML; pers. obs.). O. hoparatea sp. nov. shares several characters with other saxicolous Oligosoma species, such as high scale counts and elongated digits and tail. The colouration allows the species to be camouflaged in its rocky habitat, although the lack of speckling in the colour pattern distinguishes this species from most other saxicolous skinks in New Zealand, including the syntopic species O. waimatense and O. longipes. Potential predators of O. hoparatea sp. nov. include other skink species (particularly the larger O. waimatense), birds (e.g. black-fronted tern Chlidonias albostriatus (Gray) and New Zealand falcon Falco novaeseelandiae Gmelin) and introduced mammals (feral house mouse Mus musculus Linnaeus, brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula (Kerr), European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus Linnaeus, ship rat Rattus rattus Linnaeus, Norwegian rat R. norvegicus (Berkenhout), feral pig Sus scrofa Linnaeus, feral ferret Mustela furo Linnaeus, stoat M. erminea Linnaeus, weasel M. nivalis Linnaeus and feral cat Felis catus Linnaeus). Feral cats, stoats, hedgehogs, possums, pigs and mice are known to be present at or near the type locality. In the absence of habitat loss, the greatest threat to lizard populations on the mainland of New Zealand (e.g. Reardon et al. 2012) is predation by introduced mammals. Conservation status. O. hoparatea is extremely rare; since its discovery it has been seen on only four scree areas on two adjacent mountain ranges, and may have disappeared from one of these, and the population on each is only a few tens of animals at most, based informally on the small numbers observed. Numerous apparently suitable screes have been searched, but no additional populations have been detected at these locations. The combination of very small fragmented populations and large areas of apparently unoccupied suitable habitat mean that historical and ongoing declines are highly likely, although population trend has not been documented. Following its discovery in 2004, O. hoparatea sp. nov. was listed by Hitchmough et al. (2007) under the tag-name “ Oligosoma aff. longipes "Rangitata” as Data Deficient (One Location). The Data Deficient category is for very poorly known taxa, which lack sufficient information for even an educated guess at conservation status. The “One Location” qualifier is self-explanatory—at that time, the skink was known only from the site of the original discovery. Hitchmough et al. (2010) shifted it to Nationally Critical (Data Poor, One Location), on the b

Caledoniscincus constellatus sp. nov. Figs. 1���5 Holotype. MNHN 2011.0228 (formerly AMS R 171497) Pointe de Vavouto, Province Nord, New Caledonia 21 ��00' 39.8 "S 164 �� 41 '04.3"E (collected R.A. Sadlier and A.H. Whitaker 27 Jan. 2009). Paratypes. AMS R 171496 Pointe de Vavouto 21 ��00' 35.1 "S 164 �� 41 '02.0"E (collected R.A. Sadlier and A.H. Whitaker 27 Jan. 2009); AMS R 171470 Pointe de Vavouto 21 ��00' 40.3 "S 164 �� 41 '07.9"E (collected R.A. Sadlier and A.H. Whitaker 26 Jan. 2009); AMS R 171471 Pointe de Vavouto 21 ��00' 34.5 "S 164 �� 41 '02.0"E (collected R.A. Sadlier and A.H. Whitaker 26 Jan. 2009). Additional material examined. QM J. 58022 Massif d���Ouazangou 20 �� 44 ��� 34 ���S 164 �� 28 ���03"E collected R. Raven 14 May 1992. Etymology. The species epithet is Latin for studded with stars and refers to the pattern of white specks on the dorsal surface of males of the species. Diagnosis. Caledoniscincus constellatus sp. nov. can be distinguished from the other species of Caledoniscincus by the following combination of characters: (a) moderately small size (adult male 46���57mm SVL; adult female 57mm SVL); (b) tail long, approximately 2.0+ longer than body; (c) the fourth toe being covered with 17���19 scales above and 31���33 lamellae below; (d) a broad pale midlateral stripe; (e) bright yellow ventral colour in adults of both sexes. The presence of a pale midlateral stripe in Caledoniscincus constellatus sp. nov. will distinguish it from all other species of Caledoniscincus except C. haplorhinus and populations of C. austrocaledonicus from the central and northern regions of New Caledonia, both of which also have this character state, and which also occur in the northwest region of New Caledonia. Caledoniscincus constellatus sp. nov. is sympatric with C. haplorhinus on the Pointe de Vavouto, and locally sympatric with both C. haplorhinus and C. austrocaledonicus which occur on the Massif d���Ouazangou-Taom. The general pattern of C. constellatus sp. nov. and C. haplorhinus are similar to each other in that the males and females are two-toned with a light dorsal surface contrasting with a noticeably darker upper lateral surface which is bordered below by a pale midlateral stripe. The most consistent difference between the two species, and with C. austrocaledonicus, is in the positioning of the pale midlateral stripe where it contacts the back of the ear opening (Fig. 2): in C. constellatus sp. nov. the pale midlateral stripe is broad, meets most of the posterior edge of the ear and then continues broadly from the anterior edge of the ear unbroken to the anterior-most upper labials; in C. haplorhinus the pale midlateral stripe is narrow, joins the upper posterior edge of the ear and forms a pale edge over the ear and continues anteriorly as a row of broken pale markings to the anterior upper labials; in C. austrocaledonicus the pale midlateral stripe is narrow, follows a line anteriorly towards the middle of the rear edge of the ear opening, but loses definition approaching the ear opening. The tail of C. constellatus sp. nov. (208 % SVL) is also longer than that of C. haplorhinus (maximum 173 % SVL) or C. austrocaledonicus (~ 150 % SVL). There are also marked differences in ventral colouration between these three species. Adult male and female C. constellatus sp. nov. have bold yellow ventral surfaces which distinguish them from C. haplorhinus (adult males moderate yellow; adult females pale yellow) and from C. austrocaledonicus (adult males orange; adult females moderate yellow). Further, the reticulate pattern of narrow, bicoloured transverse bars in adult male C. constellatus sp. nov. is unique and readily distinguishes them from adult male C. haplorhinus which lack any transverse markings on the dorsal surface, and male C. austrocaledonicus which has a pale vertebral marking (rough stripe or variably connected blotches) down the centre of the back. In scalation there is highly significant levels of difference (t C. constellatus sp. nov. and C. haplorhinus (all populations included) in toe scalation and number of midbody scale rows (Table 1). However, there is overlap in range of values for these characters and they are not significantly different when compared with syntopic C. haplorhinus, limiting their usefulness diagnostic markers in the identification of individuals. Description. Based on three adult males (46���52mm SVL), one adult female (57mm SVL) from Pointe de Vavouto. Measurements: adult size 46���57mm SVL; distance from axilla to groin 58.6���63.2 % SVL x = 61); distance from forelimb to snout 30.7���35.4 % SVL (x = 33.9); hindlimb length 43.9���47.5 % SVL (x = 45.3); tail length of individual with most complete tail 208.1 % SVL. Scalation: midbody scale rows 28���30 (x = 28.5, sd = 1.00); dorsal scale rows 61���65 (x = 63.0, sd = 1.63); scales on top of fourth finger 10���12 (x = 11, sd = 0.81); lamellae beneath fourth finger 16���18 (x = 16.5, sd = 0.7); scales on top of fourth toe 17���19 (x = 18.0, sd = 0.82); lamellae beneath fourth toe 31���33 (x = 31.9, sd = 0.85). Osteology: presacral vertebrae 28 (n = 1) ��� 29 (n = 3); postsacral vertebrae 43 (n = 1) for individual with longest tail, tip (19 %) reproduced. Colour and pattern in life (Fig. 3): Dorsal surface of males predominately light brown (larger individuals) to grey-brown (smallest individual) with a reticulate pattern of narrow (one scale width), bicoloured transverse bars, the individual scales of which are black with one to several small white spots medially within the scale and/or along its anterior edge, and the scales making up the of lighter interspaces between the dark transverse bars are densely peppered with minute black spots. Top of head bearing a mix of grey and light brown (larger individuals) or more uniformly grey-brown (smallest individual). Lateral surface of body and head black with a bold white midlateral stripe that extends along the side of the head from the anterior labials to the anterior edge of the ear, and then along the neck from the lower and posterior edge of the ear opening and passing above the forelimb and along the body as a continuous stripe (one scale width) to the edge of the hindlimb, continuing along the hindlimb as a lighter and narrower grey stripe bordered below by a continuation of the black lower lateral colour. The light dorsal and dark lateral surfaces are well differentiated and highly contrasting, the dorsolateral edge is irregular and defined by a pale narrow stripe that is cream with brown suffusion between the naris and eye, white between the eye and level of the forelimb, and of variable in width and clarity of colour along the remainder of the body being narrow (half scale width) and variably suffused with brown to wide (one scale width) and white in colour, with the wider and paler areas appearing more as a series of white blotches. Tail grey-brown above with some continuation medially of the light brown dorsal colouration of the body. Lateral surface of the tail dark basally but mid-brown over the remainder of its length and bordered above by a very narrow, unbroken, black edge along the dorsolateral margin. Undersurface of body and neck white and strongly contrasting with the dark lower lateral surface, the body with a bold yellow flush anteriorly to the level of the forelimbs. Lower labials each with large dark markings, scales along inner edge of jaw line also with scattered dark markings, and the mental scale with dark blotches and numerous minute dark specks to give an overall blackish appearance. Adult female with the dorsal surface grey-brown above with a series of small, widely separated dark blotches along the vertebral line of the neck, body and base of tail, continuing as a narrow dark vertebral streak along the remainder of the tail. Lateral surface as for males but with the pale dorsolateral markings usually white, near continuous and narrow (1 / 2 scale width). Details of Holotype: Adult male (MNHN 2011.0228); size 49.5 mm SVL; tail length 103 mm (19.5 mm of tip reproduced). Midbody scale rows 28; dorsal scale rows 61; dorsal scales of fourth finger 11 / 11; lamellae of fourth finger 16 / 16; dorsal scales of fourth toe -/ 18; lamellae of fourth toe -/ 31. Comments. The single juvenile specimen in the Queensland Museum from the Ouazangou massif is assigned to C. constellatus sp. nov. on the basis of having the black upper and lower lateral colouration (including the side of the head) and distinctive broad, pale midlateral stripe and the contact of this stripe with the ear opening diagnostic of the population at the type locality. However, this specimen is poorly preserved and the scalation characters are difficult to assess thus not allowing comparison with the type series from Vavouto with any confidence, although it does appear to have a shorter tail (166 % versus 208 % SVL) indicating the possibility of some regional differentiation, the significance of which can only be assessed with more samples. Distribution and biology. Caledoniscincus constellatus sp. nov. occurs in the northwest coast of the Grande Terre on Pointe de Vavouto and on the Massif d���Ouazangou. The site at Vavouto is mostly covered by disturbed vegetation but there is a mixture of dense to open maquis and Acacia shrubland on the coastal hills and remnant sclerophyll forest (���Formation Jaffr�����) in the gully. This site is unique for the occurrence of sclerophyll forest on serpentine. The new species was found in both habitats, and was syntopic with Caledoniscincus haplorhinus which was more abundant. Sclerophyll forest habitat is extremely restricted in distribution, but the mosaic of maquis and acacia shrubland is widespread and extends to the adjacent coastal hills and low-elevation slopes and valleys at the base of the Massif de Koniambo. Investigation of maquis and acacia shrubland at the base of Massif de Koniambo did not record C. constellatus sp. nov., but did record C. haplorhinus. The single juvenile from Massif d���Ouazangou was collected in an insect pitfall trap set in Acacia shrubland in a west-facing gully around 400 m elevation. Conservation status. Potential threats to the species preferred habitats includes an array of low- to moderatelevel human-mediated impacts, including: extensive loss and fragmentation of sclerophyll forest, near coastal maquis and Acacia shrubland on the central-west and north-west coast from clearing for ranching and agriculture; a decline in the extent and quality of remaining sclerophyll forest, maquis and Acacia shrubland in the long-term from repeated wildfires and, where they occur on ultramafic massifs, from activities associated with nickel mining; a potentially very high risk of a decline in quality (and consequently in extent) of the remaining sclerophyll forest fragments at Pointe de Vavaouto from the immediate proximity of the infrastructural development associated with the Koniambo mine processing facility; a potentially severe negative impact from the invasive little red fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) in sclerophyll as indicated by studies on congeners (Jourdan et al., 2001). Based on the threats identified above, the species extremely restricted range and its occurrence at only two locations, C. constellatus sp. nov. is ranked as Critically Endangered on IUCN Red List criteria (IUCN 2001). Comparative material examined. The following specimens of Caledoniscincus haplorhinus were used in the morphological comparisons: AMS R 77407, R 77409, R 77427, R 77429, R 77437, R 77449 ��� 52, R 78319 ��� 20, R 78322, R 78326 - 28 Noum��a, Fambourg Blanchot 22 �� 18 'S 166 �� 27 'E; AMS R 135119 - 23 Nouville, Isle Nou 22 �� 16 'S 166 �� 24 'E; R 146433 ��� 4, CAS 198763 ��� 71 Plage de Ouano 21 �� 50 ' 43 "S 165 �� 48 ' 33 "E; AMS R 144257 ��� 58, R 144284 ��� 89 Grottes de Koumac, 9km E of Koumac 20 �� 33 ' 18 "S 164 �� 21 ' 49 "E; AMS R 146459 ��� 70, R 146472 Pinda��, Plage de Pinda�� 21 �� 21 ' 26 "S 164 �� 57 ' 11 "E; AMS R 171478 ��� 81 Pointe de Vavouto 21 ��00' 40.3 "S 164 �� 41 '07.9"E; AMS R 171483 Pointe de Vavouto 21 ��00��� 36.4 ���S 164 �� 41 ��� 8.6 ���E; AMS R 171491 Pointe de Vavouto 21 ��00��� 17.8 S 164 �� 46 ��� 7.5 E., Published as part of Sadlier, Ross A., Whitaker, Tony, Wood, Perry L. & Bauer, Aaron M., 2012, A new species of scincid lizard in the genus Caledoniscincus (Reptilia: Scincidae) from northwest New Caledonia, pp. 47-57 in Zootaxa 3229 on pages 52-56, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.209940

beta-D-2'-Deoxy-2'-fluoro-2'-C-methylcytidine (PSI-6130) is a potent inhibitor of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication in an HCV replicon assay. The 5'-triphosphate of PSI-6130 is a competitive inhibitor of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and acts as a nonobligate chain terminator. Recently, it has been shown that the metabolism of PSI-6130 also results in the formation of the 5'-triphosphate of the uridine congener, beta-D-2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-2'-C-methyluridine (PSI-6206; RO2433). Here we show that the formation of the 5'-triphosphate of RO2433 (RO2433-TP) requires the deamination of PSI-6130 monophosphate and that RO2433 monophosphate is subsequently phosphorylated to the corresponding di- and triphosphates by cellular UMP-CMP kinase and nucleoside diphosphate kinase, respectively. RO2433-TP is a potent inhibitor of the HCV RdRp; however, both enzymatic and cell-based assays show that PSI-6130 triphosphate is a more potent inhibitor of the HCV RdRp than RO2433-TP.