| Moko skink | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Oligosoma |
| Species: | O. moco |
| Binomial name | |
| Oligosoma moco | |
| Synonyms | |
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The moko skink (Oligosoma moco) is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae (skinks) [1] that is endemic to New Zealand.
The species was first described by André Marie Constant Duméril and Gabriel Bibron in 1839 under the name Lygosoma moco. [2] In 1955 when Charles McCann revised the taxa of New Zealand skinks, he placed the species within the genus Leiolopisma , which made the species' scientific name Leiolopisma moco for much of the 20th century. [3] [4] This was until 1995 when Geoff Patterson and Charles Daugherty reinstated the genus Oligosoma for New Zealand skinks, leading to the species' modern name Oligosoma moco. [3] [5] The specific epithet moco refers to moko, the Māori word for lizards in general. [6]
The colour and patterns are variable, but the overall colour is coppery or olive brown and it usually has an even edged dark brown stripe along the side, bordered cream or white on the top and bottom. Some individuals are very dark. It has distinctive long toes and tail, and grows to a maximum snout–vent length of 81 mm (3.2 in). [6] The very long tail can make up over half the total body length. [7]
The species can be distinguished from the undescribed Whirinaki skink (also a member of Oligosoma) due to the Whirinaki skinks having a distinct teardrop marking below their eyes. [6]
It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the northeastern part of the North Island, between North Cape and the Bay of Plenty, as well as numerous islands off the east coast of the North Island, where it is most commonly found. [6] [8] To help protect the species, skinks were released into the Rotoroa Island sanctuary in 2015. [9]
Moko skinks are generally found in coastal environments. They are active mainly by day and are often seen basking on warm rocks. They are also found under logs and stones and in clay banks. They eat small insects, spiders and similar invertebrates. [10] They often emerge from vegetation edges to hunt on beaches and open rocky areas. [7]
Like most of the New Zealand native skinks, the moko skink gives birth to live young, rather than laying eggs. [6] Litters of between two and six are born between February and March. [6]
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Hardy's skink is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Poor Knights Islands of New Zealand.
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Oligosoma lineoocellatum, commonly known as the Canterbury spotted skink, is one of a species complex of several related spotted skink species from New Zealand.
The McCann's skink is a species of skink native to New Zealand.
The Chesterfield or Kapitia skink is a species of skink found in New Zealand. Only discovered in 1994 and for years not recognised as a distinct species, it is endemic to a narrow 1 km strip of coastal vegetation on the West Coast of New Zealand, 15 km north of Hokitika. There are fewer than 200 individuals remaining in the wild. Oligosoma salmo is the only New Zealand skink with a prehensile tail, suggesting it was once arboreal and inhabited coastal forest, which was subsequently cleared for dairy farming. Following the partial destruction of its remaining habitat in 2018 by a cyclone, a small captive breeding population was established at Auckland Zoo.
The tātahi skink is an undescribed skink species endemic to New Zealand in the family Scincidae, found on the western coast of the Northland Peninsula and Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands in New Zealand. Thought to be the same species as Oligosoma smithi of the east coast, the Tātahi skink was identified as being genetically distinct in 2008.