Rationale

The Mt. Coke False Shieldback is Critically Endangered under criteria B1 and B2 because it has a very small and restricted population, and the area, extent and quality of its habitat are estimated to be in decline. It is only known from the holotype and only from one location in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Despite abundant surveys of the region, this species has not been encountered since its original discovery in 1965, so its EOO and AOO are estimated at 4 km². Due to its highly restricted distribution, even a small disturbance can have a detrimental effect on the survival of the species as a whole. The most likely threats to the species are increased grazing by wildlife or livestock, destruction of natural habitat patches for human development, or change in microclimate or distribution of the species' food plants as a result of climate change. Due to its small body size and low mobility, this species cannot be expected to shift its range in response to changes in its habitat. 

Distribution

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

Threats

Due to its severely restricted distribution, the Mt. Coke False Shieldback is particularly prone to any changes in its habitat. The most likely disturbances are over-grazing by livestock and climate change-associated variation in weather patterns which can affect the distribution of this species’ food plant and microhabitat conditions. Likely threats include droughts, floods, wildfires, and extreme temperature fluctuations. 

Conservation

No specific conservation measures are in place for this species and it is not known to occur within any protected areas.