| Hardy's skink | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Oligosoma |
| Species: | O. hardyi |
| Binomial name | |
| Oligosoma hardyi | |
 | |
| Distribution of Hardy's skink on a map of the North Island Known native range | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
Hardy's skink (Oligosoma hardyi) is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Poor Knights Islands of New Zealand.
The specific name, hardyi, is in honor of Kiwi herpetologist Graham S. Hardy. [3]
In the Poor Knights Islands, O. hardyi occurs on Tawhiti Rahi Island, Aorangi Island, Aorangaia Island, Archway Island, and two rock stacks (Stack “B”, Stack “C”). [1]
O. hardyi closely resembles the copper skink, Cyclodina aenea , and was considered to be a member of this species until recently when it was described as a new species using morphological, allozyme and DNA methods (Chapple et al. 2008). More recently, the genus Cyclodina was merged with the genus Oligosoma (Chapple et al. 2009), resulting in a new combination for this species, Oligosoma hardyi.
O. hardyi is most commonly found in areas where there is ground cover near flax and scrub habitat. It is crepuscular, seeking refuge during the day under stones or thick vegetation. [1]
O. hardyi can be distinguished from all other Oligosoma species, including the other members of the O. aeneum species complex, by having suboculars three and four separated by the fifth supralabial under the eye. In addition, the midbody scale count is greater than that of the slight skink ( Oligosoma levidensum ) from the Te Paki region. [2]
O. hardyi may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5.5 cm (2.2 in). [1]
O. hardyi preys upon invertebrates. [1]
O. hardyi has been described as being viviparous [1] and as being ovoviviparous. [2]
Oligosoma is a genus of small to medium-sized skinks found only in New Zealand, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. Oligosoma had previously been found to belong to the Eugongylus group of genera in the subfamily Lygosominae; the Australian genus Bassiana appears to be fairly closely related.
The copper skink is a skink of the family Scincidae that is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand.
The New Zealand striped skink is a rare species of medium-sized skink endemic to New Zealand. Found in the North Island, Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island, the species is primarily arboreal, living in dense native tree canopies.
Oligosoma alani,, also known as the robust skink is the largest endemic skink to New Zealand. The robust skink is in the family Scincidae and found in the protected nature reserves of the Mercury Islands in the North Island of New Zealand. The robust skink has an at risk - recovering conservation status.
McGregor's skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.
The marbled skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.
Whitaker's skink, also known commonly as Whitaker's New Zealand skink, is an endangered species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is found only in New Zealand.
Falla's skink, also known commonly as the Three Kings skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to New Zealand.
The chevron skink is a large species of skink that is endemic to New Zealand. Previously found across Northland and the northern Auckland Region, it is now found only on the Great Barrier and Little Barrier islands in the Hauraki Gulf. A cryptic forest dweller, it can hide underwater. The chevron skink is the longest species of skink in New Zealand, reaching lengths of up to 340 mm (13 in). It is under threat from introduced rats.
Oligosoma infrapunctatum, the speckled skink, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
The southern skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.
Oligosoma nigriplantare, the Chatham Islands skink, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae.
Oligosoma suteri, known commonly as Suter's skink, the black shore skink, the egg-laying skink, and Suter's ground skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand, found in fragmented populations on the mainland of the Coromandel Peninsula as far south as the Coromandel Peninsula, and on offshore northern islands of New Zealand.
Oligosoma taumakae, the Open Bay Island(s) skink, or Taumaka skink, is a species of skink. It was described from the Open Bay Islands, off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
The slight skink is a skink of the family Scincidae, endemic to the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. The precise distribution is unknown; currently it is only known from localities in the Te Paki region of Northland. It closely resembles the copper skink, Oligosoma aeneum, and was considered to be a member of this species until recently when it was described as a new species using morphological, allozyme and DNA methods. O. levidensum is difficult to distinguish morphologically from O. aeneum, which is probably why it had not been recognised until recently. The main distinguishing feature is the slighter overall body form of O. levidensum compared to O. aeneum. The limbs of O. levidensum are reduced compared to O. aeneum and O. hardyi, the other members of the O. aeneum complex.
The ornate skink is a rare species of skink endemic to New Zealand. Once widespread across the North Island, habitat destruction and predation by introduced species has now reduced their range to scattered localities throughout the North Island and offshore islands.
The moko skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae (skinks) that is endemic to New Zealand.
The Mokohinau skink, also known commonly as Towns' skink and the Hauraki skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.
The Aorangi skink is a species of lizards in the skink family. The species is native to New Zealand.
Oligosoma lineoocellatum, commonly known as the Canterbury spotted skink, is one of a species complex of several related spotted skink species from New Zealand.
