Vol 3 Land Resource Inventory Report - Department of Environment ...

conducted from 6pm to 8pm on the second day (01/11/2009) within the agreed ideal
iguana habitat on the island (Figure 1).
Four native and one introduced species of herpetofauna were encountered over the
two days of survey: Emoia cyanura, E. impar, Cryptoblepharus eximus, Candoia
bibroni and Lepidodactylus lugubris. Two of the native species are endemic to Fiji.
No herpetofauna was found during the nocturnal survey (Table 1).
One native, endemic species (Brachylophus bulabula or B. fasciatus) and the
introduced invasive cane toad (Bufo marinus) were reported by the inhabitants of
nearby Makogai Island to be occasionally present on Makodraga.
Table 1: List of herpetofauna species found during opportunistic diurnal surveys on
Makodraga Island from 31 st October and 1 st November 2009.
English name
Fijian Name
Scientific name Conservation
Status
6
Observed
during survey /
Reported by
guides
REPTILES
Pacific boa Gata Candoia bibronii Native Observed
Oceanic gecko Moko kabi Gehyra oceanica Native Observed
Mourning or Pacific
gecko
Moko kabi Lepidodactylus
lugubris
Introduced
Observed
Green tree skink Moko sari Emoia concolor Endemic Observed
Blue-tailed Copperstriped
skink
Moko sari Emoia impar
Native
Observed
Brown-tailed
Copper-striped skink
Moko sari Emoia cyanura
Native
Observed
Fiji banded iguana Vokai Brachylophus Endemic Reported by
bulabula
OR
guides
AMPHIBIANS
B. fasciatus
Native
Marine or Cane toad Boto karokaro Bufo marinus Introduced, Reported by
Invasive guides
Several iguana breeding sites were identified along the south-eastern part of the island
(Figure 1) , where the soil was relatively soft with less boulders (Figure 2) compared
to the north western side (Figure 3).
A survey by P. Harlow and R. Fisher in February 2010 with good weather established
the presence of the Fiji Banded Iguana on Makodraga Island and they estimated a
population of 2000 individuals on the island.
Skink abundance
Ground skinks were common within the forest to the north-west of Makodraga Island
and along the slopes from ‘Peak 1’ to ‘look out point’. Not many skinks were
observed along the south-eastern part of the island (from ‘creek bed’ to ‘ficus’.