Oligosoma smithi

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Oligosoma smithi
Oligosoma smithi in Northland.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. smithi
Binomial name
Oligosoma smithi
(Gray, 1845)
Synonyms [1]

Oligosoma smithi, commonly known as the shore skink, [2] short-tailed skink, [2] Smith's ground skink, [3] Smith's moco, [4] and Smith's skink, [2] is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae (skinks) that is native to New Zealand.

Contents

Description

Scientific specimen collected from the Mercury Islands Oligosoma smithi (AM LH437-2).jpg
Scientific specimen collected from the Mercury Islands

Oligosoma smithi is small species of skink, growing to a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 8 cm (3.1 in). It is well camouflaged, and may be found in a range of colours, sometimes almost black.

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand. It is always found near the shoreline and prefers open areas such as around driftwood at the high tide mark. [2]

Behavior

Oligosoma smithi is diurnal (active during the day) and spends most of its time hunting or basking in the sun.[ citation needed ] It eats insects and probably anything that moves and fits in its mouth.[ citation needed ]

Like most New Zealand skinks, it is viviparous (reproduces by giving birth to live young).[ citation needed ]

Conservation status

As of 2012 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified Oligosoma smithi as Not Threatened under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. [5]

Etymology

The specific name, smithi, is in honor of British naval officer Lt Alexander Smith who collected the original specimens in the 1840s, and presented them to his uncle John Edward Gray, who described the new species. [3]

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References

  1. ↑ "Oligosoma smithi ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Shore Skink". Hamilton Zoo. Hamilton Zoo. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Oligosoma smithi, p. 246).
  4. ↑ Gray, 1845.
  5. ↑ 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. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 18 July 2015.

Further reading


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