Rationale
(Changed due to Knowledge of criteria|New Information)
This species appears to have a small extent of occurrence of ca 4,600 km². Increasing human pressures (agriculture, housing developments and coastal recreation) have lead to a continuing decline in quality and extent of suitable habitat in the few areas where this species has been found. However, there is very little knowledge regarding the distribution of Acontias poecilus, with only three localities recorded. Therefore the threats cannot be assessed and the species is regarded as Data Deficient.
Distribution
This species is only known from three localities on the coastal regions of the extreme southern part of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa and the adjacent eastern parts of the Eastern Cape Province (Bates et al. 2014). It is possibly endemic to this region but there is low confidence for interpreting its distribution.
Decline
Although it is likely that human land use has restricted this species to isolated pockets of suitable habitat, this may just be an artifact of poor surveys.
Population trend
Trend
There is too little information regarding this species to infer any population status or trends.
Threats
This species is known from only three localities, all of which are susceptible to current and possible future land conversion for agriculture, housing and recreation, particularly along coastal areas. This species might have limited dispersal capabilities which can further exacerbate the threat of habitat transformation, and/or it could be sensitive to anthropogenic environments. However, because there is very little information on this species, these threats cannot be definitely assigned.
Uses and trade
There is no known utilization or trade of this species.
Conservation
Clarify the species' taxonomic status relative to adjacent populations of Acontias plumbeus, especially the disjunct population of A. plumbeus in the former Transkei. In Bates et al. (2014), based on recommendations by Branch and Haagner (1999), surveys of Mkambati Nature Reserve in the Eastern Cape were proposed. Surveys conducted by Venter and Conradie (2014), w. Conradie pers. obs. (February 2014) and W. Conradie pers. obs. (September 2016) failed in finding this species despite the survey being conducted in intact habitat. It is possible therefore, that the species is simply rare or difficult to find due to its fossorial nature. Until its distribution and tolerances to anthropogenic disturbance can be better understood, this species must be considered Data Deficient. Improvement of this basic biological information could allow for its conservation status to be assigned.
