Current status of the Crocodile Lizard Shinisaurus crocodilurus Ahl, 1930 in Vietnam with implications for conservation measures

Abstract

The Crocodile lizard Shinisaurus crocodilurus Ahl, 1930 is a monotypic
species, with a distribution range restricted to small and isolated areas in
southern China and northern Vietnam. Habitat destruction and illegal
poaching are the main causes of alarming population declines and even
extinction of some wild populations in China. While the Chinese population
was estimated to comprise only 950 individuals in 2004, the existing status
of the Vietnamese population remains unknown, since its discovery in 2002.
our work provides the first estimation of the population size of S. croco -
dilurus in Vietnam, which is essential baseline data for future conservation
strategies. Our field research revealed a dramatically small population size
of less than 100 mature individuals. This value falls substantially below
published threshold sizes of several thousand individuals, required for the
long-term persistence of a species. Our research highlights the urgent need
to improve the conservation activities for this species in its natural habitats
and suggests means for a translocation program to restore (minimum viable
sizes of) the wild populations in northern Vietnam.

Full text

Current status of the Crocodile Lizard Shinisaurus crocodilurus
Ahl, 1930 in Vietnam with implications for conservation measures
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FGF@A:=JF9LAGF K=9KGF G> L@= JG;G<AD= (AR9J< M= LG ALK KLJGF? 9KKG;A9LAGF OAL@
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KLJ=9EK O9K K9EHD=< MHKLJ=9E <MJAF? J=H=9L=< FA?@L =P;MJKAGFK :=LO==F  9F<
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9FAE9DK O=J= L9??=< 9F< J=D=9K=< GF L@= =P9;L K9E= HD9;= GF L@= >GDDGOAF? <9Q
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09Q5=F0M*.KAPKLJ=9EK:=LO==F=D=N9LAGFKG>E9KDO=J=KMJN=Q=<+F
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N9LAGFK:=LO==FE9KD9F<>GMJ KLJ=9EKAF GF?/GF'Q0@MGF?*.9L
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J=FL9?=?JGMHKNARBMN=FAD=/2(EEKM:9<MDLEE\/2(EE
9F<9<MDL/2(]EE%FBMJA=KO=J=J=;GJ<=<OAL@KH=;A9D9LL=FLAGFLGL@=;9M<9D
J=?AGFL@9LO9KMK=<9K9E=9KMJ=G>EMDLAN9JA9L=KLJ=KKGJK
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9F<NAJLM9DDQ FGAEHDA;9LAGFKGFEGNAF?KH==<?JGOL@J9L=9F<@=9DL@G>L@=9FAE9D
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D=>L :G<Q KA<= :=@AF< L@= K@GMD<=J G> =9;@ ;9HLMJ=< AF<ANA<M9D 0@= HMF;LMJ= O9K
;DGK=<OAL@H=LJGD9LME0@=>MF;LAGFAF?G>9DDEA;JG;@AHK@9<:==FL=KL=<=9JDA=JOAL@
9J=9<=JJ==<=J.=9<=J(,D9F=L% #E:$09??=<AF<ANA<M9DK<A<FGLK@GO9FQ
KA?FK G> AFBMJQ J=KMDLAF? >JGE L@= AFB=;LAGF 9F< O=J= J=D=9K=< OAL@AF  @GMJK G>
;9HLMJ=.=;9HLMJ=KO=J=A<=FLA>A=<9F<J=D=9K=<AEE=<A9L=DQ
Calculation0@=HGHMD9LAGFKAR=O9K=KLAE9L=<:Q9HHDQAF?9;9HLMJ=J=;9HLMJ=
E=L@G<EG<A>A=<>GJS. crocodilurus :Q$M9F?et al;;GJ<AF?DQO= ;9D;M
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D9L=<9F`AFNAKA:ADALQJ9L=aO@A;@O9K9<GHL=<>GJS. crocodilurus LG;GEH=FK9L=>GJ
9FAE9DKHJ=K=FL:ML FGLK==F<MJAF?L@=KMJN=QK0@AKE=L@G<O9KK=D=;L=<LG G:L9AF
;GEH9J9:D=<9L9 LG L@= =KLAE9L=K GFL@= @AF=K= HGHMD9LAGF 0@= ;9D;MD9LAGFG> L@=
`AFNAKA:ADALQ J9L=a O9K:9K=< GF L@J== ;GFK=;MLAN= LAE= KMJN=QK AFAFL=JN9DK G> 
<9QKOAL@AFL@=09Q5=F0M*.*^7Fi8O@=J=*AKL@=LGL9DHGHMD9LAGFKAR=
FAKL@=FME:=JG>G:K=JN=<AF<ANA<M9DK9DGF?9KLJ=9ELJ9FK=;L9F<AAKL@=`AFNAKA:D=
J9L=aAF<=Pi7^bn_an8^anO@=J=anAKL@=FME:=JG>G:K=JN=<AF<ANA<M9DKAF
L@=LJ9FK=;Ln<MJAF?L@=>AJKLKMJN=Q9F<bnAKL@=LGL9DFME:=JG>G:K=JN=<AF<ANA<M9DK
AFLJ9FK=;Ln0@=LJ9FK=;LF=IM9DKL@=KMJN=Q=<KLJ=9E
Statistical analyses/L9LAKLA;9D9F9DQKAKO9KH=J>GJE=<OAL@L@=HJG?J9E,/0
$9EE=J et al.   Chi20=KL O9K 9HHDA=< LG L=KL >GJ <A>>=J=F;=K 9EGF? 9?=
;D9KK=K9F< L@= G;;MJJ=F;=G> AFBMJA=K :=LO==F <A>>=J=FLDG;9DALA=K /A?FA>A;9FL <A>>=
J=F;=O9K<=;D9J=<>GJHHH9F<H
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Population size MJAF?L@=>A=D<J=K=9J;@S. crocodilurus O9K>GMF<AFK=N=F
<A>>=J=FLKLJ=9EKG>L@J==F9LMJ=J=K=JN=KLGL9DG>AF<ANA<M9DKO=J=;9HLMJ=<9F<
J=;9HLMJ==N=FLKLGGCHD9;=<MJAF?L@=KMJN=Q9K=<GF9;9D;MD9L=<AFNAKA:ADALQJ9L=
AF<=P G>  L@= LGL9D HGHMD9LAGF AF 2A=LF9E O9K =KLAE9L=< LG ;GEHJAK= 9:GML 
AF<ANA<M9DK>JGEO@A;@GFDQO=J=;GFKA<=J=<LG:=E9LMJ=09:0@=@A?@=KL
<=FKALQG>S. crocodilurus O9K>GMF<AF09Q5=F0M*.AF<ANA<M9DKH=JCELJ9FK=;L
KLJ=9EO@AD=<=FKALA=KO=J=DGO=KLAF GF?/GF'Q0@MGF?*.J9F?AF?>JGELG
AF<ANA<M9DKH=JCELJ9FK=;LKLJ=9E09:
Population structure 0@= FME:=J G> AF<ANA<M9DK ;9H9:D= G> J=HJG<M;LAGF AK
;JM;A9D>GJL@=KMJNAN9DG>L@=HGHMD9LAGF9F<L@MKK=JN=K 9K E=9KMJ= LG =N9DM9L= L@=
=F<9F?=JE=FLG>KH=;A=K%1*S. crocodilurus J=9;@=KE9LMJALQ9L9:GMLL@J==
Q=9JK5Met al.0@=9?=AK@A?@DQJ=D9L=<LGL@=9FAE9DKKAR=O@=J=:QL@=KFGML
N=FLD=F?L@HJGN=<LG:=L@=EGKL9HHJGHJA9L=E=9KMJ=;GJJ=KHGF<AF?LG:G<QKAR=AF
DAR9J<K9KL9ADK 9J= HJGF= LG :=AFBMJ=<)=AJA >J=IM=F;Q @AKLG?J9E G>L@=
KFGMLN=FLD=F?L@G>;9HLMJ=<S. crocodilurus J=N=9D=<LOGE9PAE99L9F<EE
"A?  0@AK H9LL=JF K@GOK L@9L L@= OAD< HGHMD9LAGF AFN=KLA?9L=< AF GMJ KLM<Q
;GFKAKL=<G>J=D9LAN=DQ@A?@FME:=JK G> BMN=FAD=K 9F< QGMF? 9<MDLK :MLGFDQG>>=O
KM:9<MDLK9F<:A?9<MDLK;GFKHA;MGMKJ=HJG<M;LAGFKM;;=KKO9KG:K=JN=<AFL@=09Q
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et al.  /@9>>=J et al  0@= ;GF;=HL G> 9 bEAFAEME NA9:D= HGHMD9LAGFc
)2,/@9>>=J@9K:==F>J=IM=FLDQ 9HHDA=< AF L=JEKG> KH=;A=K J=;GN=JQ 9F<
;GFK=JN9LAGFE9F9?=E=FLHJG?J9EK OAL@ J=D=N9F;= LGL@=%1*.=< (AKLcK;JAL=JA9
;GF;=JFAF?KE9DD9F<J9F?=J=KLJA;L=<HGHMD9LAGFK=?D9JCet al..==<et al
0J9ADDet al0@= )2,AK<=>AF=< 9K L@= KE9DD=KLL@J=K@GD< KAR=
O@A;@AKJ=IMAJ=<>GJ9HGHMD9LAGFGJ9KH=;A=KLG@9N=9HJ=<=L=JEAF=<HJG:9:ADALQG>
H=JKAKL=F;=>GJ9?AN=FD=F?L@G>LAE=.==<et al/@9>>=J!PH=JAE=FLK
GFAKGD9L=<KM:HGHMD9LAGFKJ=N=9D=<9DG;9D=PLAF;LAGFG>KM:HGHMD9LAGFKOAL@F 
9F<H=JKAKL=F;=OAL@F  AF<ANA<M9DK =J?=J3AL@J=KH=;L LGJ=HLAD=K9F<
9EH@A:A9FK0J9ADDet alKMEE9JAR=<)2,KJ9F?AF?>JGELGAF<ANA
<M9DK9F<KL9L=<L@9L)2,K?=F=J9DDQDA=AFL@=J9F?=G>K=N=J9DL@GMK9F<AF<ANA<M9DK
.==< et al  ;GF;DM<=< L@9L 9 HGHMD9LAGF KAR= G> 9L D=9KL  9<MDLK AF 9FQ
N=JL=:J9L=AK J=IMAJ=< LG;GH= OAL@ =NGDMLAGF9JQ 9F<<=EG?J9H@A; ;GFKLJ9AFLK AFL@=
DGF?L=JE 0@= HGHMD9LAGF KAR= G> S. crocodilurus AF 2A=LF9E O9K HJ=DAEAF9JQ
=KLAE9L=<LG;GEHJAK=9:GMLE9LMJ=AF<ANA<M9DK9F<L@MK:=AF?<J9E9LA;9DDQKE9DD=J
L@9F L@= @AF=K= HGHMD9LAGF OAL@  =KLAE9L=< AF<ANA<M9DK AF  $M9F? et al
0@=@A?@AF;A<=F;=G>BMN=FAD=KEGKL;GF;AK=OAL@AFL@=09Q5=F0M*.AEHDA
;9L=KL@9L L@=J=HJG<M;LAGF;9H9:ADALQG>L@=HGHMD9LAGFAKFGL=FLAJ=DQ;GFKLJ9AF=<:Q
;=JL9AFKLJ=KKGJK:MLJ9L@=JK=;GF<9JQ@9R9J<K9K@9:AL9L<=?J9<9LAGF9F<HG9;@AF?9J=
9KKME=< LG DAEAL L@= HGHMD9LAGF H=JKAKL=F;= AF L@= DGF?L=JE ;GEH9J9:D= LG L@=
@AF=K=HGHMD9LAGF$M9F?et al
 et al.



/001/ +" 0$! .++ %(! (%6.
"%#
)9AFL@J=9LKLGS. crocodilurus AF2A=LF9EG9DEAFAF? =PHDGJ9LAGF ;DGK= LG L@=KH=;A=K
@9:AL9L  +H=FAF? G> L@= >GJ=KL OAL@ JG9<K LG >9;ADAL9L= ;G9DEAFAF? L@JGM?@GML L@= F9LMJ=
J=K=JN=K,J=K=JN=<S. crocodilurus AF9D;G@GDMK=<>GJLJ9<ALAGF9DE=<A;AF=AF-M9F?*AF@
,JGNAF;=,@GLGK)=JF9J<=K)N9F/;@AF?=F

0@= GJ<=J G> AFBMJA=K AF KH=;AE=FK <A>>=J=< 9EGF? L@= L@J== KAL=K 9F< O9K
@A?@=KLOAL@AFL@= GF?/GF'Q0@MGF?*.FMF>9NGMJ9:D=@9:AL9LKLJM;LMJ=L@=
G;;MJJ=F;=G>HJ=<9LGJKGJ;GEH=LALGJK9F<@ME9FAEH9;LKEA?@L:=HGL=FLA9DJ=9KGFK
>GJ@A?@=JJ9L=KG>NAGD9L=<KH=;AE=FKAFL@AKJ=K=JN=
"MJL@=JEGJ=GMJKLM<QJ=N=9D=<L@9LS. crocodilurus AKKLJGF?DQK=<=FL9JQ9KFG
EA?J9LAGF:=LO==F@9:AL9LKLJ=9EKAFKLJACAF?<AKL9F;=O9KHJGN=<OAL@AFL@J==Q=9JK
%FDGF?L=JENA=OL@=J=KLJA;L=<EA?J9LAGF9:ADALQEA?@LJ=<M;=L@=?=F=>DGO9F<L@MK
=F<9F?=JL@= ;GFLAFM9F;=G>L@=KH=;A=K0@==PLJ=E=DQKE9DDKM:HGHMD9LAGFKAR=KG>
9:GMLE9LMJ=AF<ANA<M9DKOAL@AF=9;@F9LMJ=J=K=JN=E9C=L@=KH=;A=KHJGF=LG>9DD
AFLG 9F =PLAF;LAGF NGJL=P #ADHAF  /GMDV  /LJGF? >DM;LM9LAGFK OAL@AF HGHM
D9LAGFKE9C=L@=E=KH=;A9DDQ HJGF= LG =PLAF;LAGF=N=FL@GM?@HGHMD9LAGFK?=F=J9DDQ
MF<=JDA= KGE= D=N=D G> >DM;LM9LAGFK =? BfJFKL9<  #J=F>=DD  .9FL9 et al.
%FL@AK;GFL=PLGMJKLM<QJ=N=9D=<L@9LL@=KM:HGHMD9LAGF>JGE09Q5=F0M*.
@9<EGJ=L@9F<GM:D=<>JGEAF;DM<AF?9EGJ=L@9F>GD<AF;J=9K=AFL@=
HJGHGJLAGFG>BMN=FAD=K0@AK@A?@AF;A<=F;=G>BMN=FAD=KO9KG:K=JN=<FGO@=J==DK=AF
2A=LF9E$GO=N=JL@=<MJ9LAGFG>KMJNAN9D9HH=9J=<KLJGF?DQJ=KLJA;L=<9KGFDQGF=G>
AF<ANA<M9DKE9JC=<AFO9KJ=;9HLMJ=<AF/AF;=S. crocodilurus J=9;@=K
K=PM9DE9LMJALQGFDQ9>L=JL@J==Q=9JKL@=KMJNAN9D<MJAF?L@AKH=JAG<AK;JM;A9D>GJL@=
E9AFL=F9F;=G>ALKHGHMD9LAGFK6@9F?5Met al
+*/!.20%+*)!/1.!/
Habitat protection: 9K=<GFL@=G:K=JN9LAGFG>N9JAGMKL@J=9LKLGL@=@9:AL9LG>
S. crocodilurus AF 2A=LF9E =? ;GFLAFMGMKDQ =PH9F<AF? ;G9DEAFAF? 9J=9 AF L@=
<AJ=;LAGF G> L@= @9:AL9L KLJ=9EK @9:AL9L >J9?E=FL9LAGF >JGE JG9<K E9<= >GJ ;G9D
=PHDGJ9LAGF 9F< DG??AF? ;GEH9FA=K >GJ=KL ;D=9J9F;= 9F< F9LMJ9D >GJ=KL >AJ=K O=
KLJGF?DQJ=;GEE=F<9HJGL=;LAGFKL9LMK=D=N9LAGFG>L@=F9LMJ=J=K=JN=KAF;DGK=;GDD9
:GJ9LAGFOAL@L@=9ML@GJALA=KG>L@=J=K=JN=KKE9FQJG;G<AD=(AR9J<HGHMD9LAGFK9J=
<AKLJA:ML=<GMLKA<=GJOAL@AFL@=:M>>=JJ=?AGFKG>L@=*.KN9F/;@AF?=Fet al
9F=PL=FKAGFG> L@= HJGL=;L=<9J=9F=LOGJCK@GMD<:=>MJL@=J ;GFKA<=J=<H9JL>JGE
L@=HJGL=;LAGFG>L@=E9;JG@9:AL9LO=J=;GEE=F<L@9L9LD=9KLL@=@9:AL9LKLJ=9EKF==<
@A?@=JHJGL=;LAGFLG=F9:D=L@=DGF?L=JEH=JKAKL=F;=G>L@=KH=;A=KF9?J==E=FLOAL@
L@=GH=J9LGJKG>DG;9D;G9DEAFAF?;GEH9FA=KAKF=;=KK9JQLGHJGL=;LL@=EAFAEME9J=9
J=IMAJ=<>GJL@=KMJNAN9DG>L@=HGHMD9LAGFO@A;@OGMD<:=>=9KA:D=9KL@=KH=;A=KAK
KLJGF?DQ K=<=FL9JQ 9F< J=KLJA;L=< LG >=O KH=;A>A; KLJ=9EK *AF? et al  N9F
/;@AF?=Fet al.G9<KO@A;@9J=AF;J=9KAF?DQ;J=9L=<L@JGM?@GML09Q5=F0M
9F< GF?/GF'Q0@MGF?*.KLG>9;ADAL9L=;G9DEAFAF?9F<LAE:=JDG??AF?0GJ<G>>
et al.pers. obs.K@GMD<:=<AJ=;L=<9JGMF<L@=@9:AL9LKLJ=9EK
Wildlife trade control: 0G;GFLJGDL@=LJ9<=9F=F@9F;=E=FLG>L@=;GFK=JN9LAGF
KL9LMKG>S. crocodilurus :QL@= 9KK=KKE=FL G> L@=KH=;A=K>GJL@=%1* .=< (AKL AK
J=;GEE=F<=<BMKL9K9FMH?J9<=G>L@=%0!/9HH=F<AP3=9DKGHJGHGK=LGAF;DM<=
S. crocodilurus AFL@=DAKLG>HJGL=;L=<KH=;A=KAF2A=LF9E%DD=?9D;GDD=;LAGFK>GJL@=H=L
LJ9<=K@GMD<:=;GFLJGDD=<:Q>GJ=KLJ9F?=JKL9LAGFKL@JGM?@H9LJGDK9LLGMJAKLA;KAL=KDAC=
09Q5=F 0M9F<5=F 0M*.KKS. crocodilurus AK 9@9:AL9LKH=;A9DAKL*AF?et al.
 N9F /;@AF?=F et al.  3M et al  GFDQ G;;MJJAF? 9DGF? KH=;A>A;
KLJ=9EKL@AKE=9KMJ= OGMD<:=>=9KA:D=9F<=>>=;LAN=HM:DA;9O9J=F=KK;9EH9A?F
 et al.


=?:JG;@MJ=HGKL=JKA?F:G9J< K@GMD<:=;GF<M;L=<>GJDG;9D;GEEMFALA=KAFKA<=
HJGL=;L=<9J=9K9F<OAL@AFL@=AJ:M>>=JRGF=K
Population restoration: "AJKLEGD=;MD9J 9F9DQKAKG> L@= =PL9FL KM:HGHMD9LAGFK
J=N=9D=<FGKA?FA>A;9FL?=F=LA;<A>>=J=F;=6A=?D=Jet al.$GO=N=J9:JG9<=J
?=F=LA; 9F9DQKAK LG =N9DM9L= L@= ;DGK=J L9PGFGEA; J=D9LAGFK@AHK G> L@= =PL9FL KM:
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