Taxonomic notes: Section empty

This species is endemic to Indonesian New Guinea. It occurs in the southern lowlands and mid-elevation mountainside from Etna Bay eastward to and including the Eilanden River basin in Papua and West Papua, Indonesian New Guinea (Zug and Allison 2006). Existing records range from sea level to 200 m asl. (A. Allison unpubl. data).

This is a well-collected species (A. Allison pers. comm. 2014).

This species is often found in patches of sunlight on the floor of primary and secondary lowland alluvial rain forest. These forests have a semi-closed canopy that is 30–35 m high and are dominated by large buttressed trees and lianas. The forest floor is relatively open with a thin layer of leaf litter or bare ground and a sparse growth of herbs and shrubs. Some of the dominant tree genera include Pometia (Sapindaceae), Celtis (Ulmaceae), Octomeles (Datiscaceae), and Syzygium (Myrtaceae). This species also occurs in disturbed habitats such as village margins and garden clearings (Zug and Allison 2006)

There is no trade in this species.

It is unlikely that any major threats are impacting this species. Deforestation in Indonesian New Guinea is considered less of a problem than in many other regions of Indonesia and is unlikely to be having a significant effect on the species, which although associated with forest clearings also appears to adapt well to modified habitats.

There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species.

Carlia caesius has been assessed as Least Concern due to its large distribution, abundance within this area and ability to thrive in disturbed areas.

• Zug, G. R. and A. Allison. 2006. New Carlia fusca complex lizards (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae) from New Guinea, Papua-Indonesia. Zootaxa 1237: 27-44.