Oligosoma roimata

Last updated

Oligosoma roimata
Status NZTCS RR.svg
Range Restricted (NZ TCS) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. roimata
Binomial name
Oligosoma roimata
Patterson, Hitchmough & Chapple, 2013

The Aorangi skink (Oligosoma roimata) is a species of lizards in the skink family. The species is native to New Zealand.

Contents

Distribution

In New Zealand O. roimata is endemic to the Poor Knights Islands, off the east coast of the Northland region. It is known to be present on the island of Aorangi. [2]

Closely related species also present on Aorangi Island include Oligosoma hardyi .

Relationships

O. roimata is most closely related to Oligosoma ornatum , which is a variable species complex. Although morphological divergence is very minor, there is 8.7–9.8% sequence divergence (using the ND2 mitochondrial gene). O. roimata has been previously referred to informally as Cyclodina ornata "Poor Knights", Cyclodina ornata "PKI", [3] and Oligosoma ornatum "Poor Knights Islands". [4]

Diagnosis

From Oligosoma ornatum , the species can be recognised by its white venter. The venter of O. ornatum is usually flushed with variable colour, but may sometimes be white or cream. The ear opening is slightly smaller than that of O. ornatum . The maximum snout-vent length (SVL) of about 63 millimetres (2.5 in) is much less than that of O. ornatum which is about 80–85 millimetres (3.1–3.3 in).

Related Research Articles

<i>Oligosoma</i> Genus of lizards

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Copper skink</span> Species of lizard

The copper skink is a skink of the family Scincidae that is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robust skink</span> Species of reptile

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macgregor's skink</span> Species of lizard

McGregor's skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marbled skink</span> Species of lizard

The marbled skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitaker's skink</span> Species of lizard

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falla's skink</span> Species of lizard

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.

<i>Oligosoma infrapunctatum</i> Species of lizard

Oligosoma infrapunctatum, the speckled skink, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Oligosoma nigriplantare</i> Species of lizard

Oligosoma nigriplantare, the Chatham Islands skink, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae.

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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moko skink</span> Species of lizard

The moko skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae (skinks) that is endemic to New Zealand. Moko is the Māori word for lizards in general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mokohinau skink</span> Species of lizard

The Mokohinau skink, also known commonly as Towns' skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burgan skink</span> Species of lizard

The Burgan skink is a nationally endangered species of skink native to New Zealand. It was described from a specimen found near the Burgan Stream, in the Rock and Pillar Range, Central Otago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cryptic skink</span> Species of lizard

The cryptic skink is a nationally vulnerable species of skink native to New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand spotted skink</span> Species of lizard

The spotted skink is a nationally at risk species of skink native to New Zealand. The Spotted skink is currently known to be present in the Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa and Wellington regions as well as in Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury. It is also present on Somes Island, Mākaro / Ward Island, North Brother Island and Stephens Island. Adult males and adult females of the species significantly differ in the snout-vent length with body sizes reaching 111mm. Females produce around 3 - 4 young.

<i>Oligosoma albornense</i> Species of skink endemic to New Zealand

The Alborn skink is a critically endangered and poorly known species of skink only found in a single 2 ha site near Reefton, New Zealand. It is classified as "Nationally Critical" by the Department of Conservation under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

The Hokitika skink is a poorly-known and critically-endangered species of lizard in the family Scincidae (skinks) found only in the Hokitika area on the West Coast of New Zealand.

The Westport skink is an undescribed species of lizard in the family Scincidae (skinks) known from just a single museum specimen, collected near Westport on the West Coast of New Zealand.

References

  1. Hitchmough, Rod; Anderson, Peter; Barr, Ben; Monks, Jo; Lettink, Marieke; Reardon, James; Tocher, Mandy; Whitaker, Tony. "Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2012" (PDF). Department of Conservation. The Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  2. Patterson, G.B.; Hitchmough, R.A.; Chapple, D.G. 2013: Taxonomic revision of the ornate skink (Oligosoma ornatum; Reptilia: Scincidae) species complex from northern New Zealand. Zootaxa, 3736(1): 54-68. doi : 10.11646/zootaxa.3736.1.2
  3. Chapple, D.G.; Daugherty, C.H.; Ritchie, P.A. 2008: Comparative phylogeography reveals pre-decline population structure of New Zealand Cyclodina (Reptilia: Scincidae) species. Biological journal of the Linnean Society, 95(2): 388-408. doi : 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.01062.x
  4. Chapple, D.G.; Ritchie, P.A.; Daugherty, C.H. 2009: Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 52(2): 470-487. doi : 10.1016/j.ympev.2009.03.021