Assessment Rationale:

Seddon (2008) proposed an assessment of Vulnerable B2ab(iii). This species has a total area of occupancy of 24 km² on six hillslope areas where the species is found at the east end of the island. The habitat has been subject to localised changing land-use practice and some development on the island, although some areas are now defined as protected areas and hence the habitat degradation has stabilised in these zones. 
The revised assessment is Near Threatened (NT), as parts of the range are protected, and the species has been resilient during past habitat changes. The species is still considered to be potentially susceptible to habitat degradation if current landscape management regimes change, and hence it is retained as Near Threatened (NT).

Geographic Range:

This species is endemic to the Madeiran islands, it is restricted to Porto Santo, where it is found at the eastern end of island. Wollaston (1878) notes that Paiva’s record from Canary Islands is erroneous.

Population:

There are no recent data on population trends, however the species is present at lower density than other species in the same family.

Habitat and Ecology

This species is found in grass tussocks, amongst rocks and litter and in screes, mainly in unshaded areas.

Major Threat(s):

The habitat has been subject to changing land-use practice (grazing and recreational use) and some development (roads and hotels) on the island, and as such the quality of the habitat has declined, although some areas (Pico Branco) are now defined as protected areas.

Conservation Actions

There are no known conservation actions in place for the species, although part of the range falls into a Site of Conservation Interest (SCI) (Pico Branco) and so this area has an habitat management plan.