| Oligosoma smithi | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| 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.
This species was first described as Mocoa smithii by John Edward Gray. The specific name, smithi, is in honor of Gray's nephew, British naval officer Lt Alexander John Smith, who collected the original specimens in the early 1840s, and presented them to his uncle at the British Museum. [5] After being placed in several other genera it was moved in 1995 to the genus Oligosoma , with all other New Zealand skink species.
Oligosoma smithi is small species of skink, growing to a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 82 mm (3.2 in). [5] It is well camouflaged, and may be found in a range of colours, with considerable variance seen between different populations, and within the same population groups. [5] Individuals who tend to live in white sandy habitats tend to be lighter in colour, while those that live on offshore islands tending to be a glossy jet black colour. [5]
The species can be distinguished from Oligosoma suteri due to O. Smithi having smaller eyes, smaller feet and shorter toes, and less visible brow. [5]
The species is native to the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand, occurring on the eastern coast from the Aupōuri Peninsula in the north south to Gisborne. [5] Closely-related skinks on the western shore of the North Island and the Three Kings Islands were formerly considered members of this species, but are now known as tātahi skinks (Oligosoma aff. smithi "Three Kings, Te Paki, Western Northland"). [5]
It is always found near the shoreline and prefers open areas such as around driftwood at the high tide mark. [2]
Oligosoma smithi is diurnal (active during the day) and spends most of its time hunting or basking in the sun. [5] It eats insects typically found along coastlines, and is known to occasionally eat fruit and scavenge birds and fish. [5]
Like most New Zealand skinks, it is viviparous (reproduces by giving birth to live young). The species typically mates around October, with between four and six young born each year between January and February. [5]
As of 2012 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified Oligosoma smithi as Not Threatened under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. [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.
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.
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.
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 moko skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae (skinks) that is endemic 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.
The Southlandgreen skink is a species of diurnal skink endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Hardy in 1977.
The cobble skink in the family Scincidae is a skink species endemic to New Zealand, found only on a single small stretch of stony beach at Granity, on the West Coast. In 2016 it was on the brink of extinction, with declining numbers and a threatened habitat, and all known individuals were captured and taken to Auckland Zoo.
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 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 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.
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.
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