| Oligosoma suteri | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Oligosoma |
| Species: | O. suteri |
| Binomial name | |
| Oligosoma suteri (Boulenger, 1906) | |
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| Synonyms [1] | |
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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.
Oligosoma suteri is the only native New Zealand skink to lay eggs – hence another of its common names, the "egg-laying skink". (The egg-laying rainbow skink, Lampropholis delicata, is present in some parts of New Zealand, but is introduced from Australia). [1] Females dig nests and lay eggs under sand, pebbles or boulders from late December to mid February. [2] Eggs hatch sooner if incubated at warmer temperatures, taking 75–80 days when incubated at 22 °C, and approximately 55 days at a constant 26 °C. [3]
Oligosoma suteri lives on northern offshore islands, from the Three Kings Islands to the Alderman Islands, at latitudes north of 37°S. [1] [3]
Oligosoma suteri inhabits the coast, often very close to the water, eating mainly intertidal amphipods that in turn subsist on dead seaweed. It is known to hunt for prey in rock pools and is a capable swimmer. [2] Suter's skink reaches densities (up to 13/m2) that are among the highest lizard densities recorded anywhere in the world. [4]
Both the specific name, suteri, and two of the common names, "Suter's skink" and "Suter's ground skink", honour Henry Suter (1841–1918), New Zealand zoologist and palaeontologist. [5]
Oligosoma is a genus of small to medium-sized skinks found only in New Zealand as well as Norfolk and Lord Howe islands. 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 Otago skink is a rare, endangered species of large skink in the family Scincidae, found in the rocky canyons and grassy patches of Central Otago, New Zealand.
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 or the Three Kings skink is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae.
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 smithi, commonly known as the shore skink, short-tailed skink, Smith's ground skink, Smith's moco, and Smith's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to the northern half of the North 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 fire skink, also known as the true fire skink or Togo fire skink, is a fairly large skink, a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is known for its bright and vivid coloration. Native to tropical forests in Western Africa, the fire skink lives fifteen to twenty years. This species is a diurnal lizard that loves to burrow and hide. It is relatively shy and reclusive, but may become tame in captivity.
Saproscincus mustelinus, commonly known as the southern weasel skink or weasel shadeskink, is a small species of skink which is endemic to Australia.
The Barrier skink is a species of medium-sized skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand, where it lives in the alpine habitat of the Darran and Takitimu mountains of Fiordland. It is one of only two species of New Zealand skinks that live exclusively in the alpine zone, the other being the "Sinbad skink", Oligosoma pikitanga, a closely related species of similar appearance which is found in the same part of the South Island. The Barrier skink was first collected in the 1960s but was overlooked until rediscovery by a pair of mountain climbers in 2005; the species was scientifically described in 2009.
The Moko skink, Oligosoma moco, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae.
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.
The Aorangi skink is a species of lizards in the skink family. The species is native to New Zealand.
Thwaites's skink, also known commonly as the fourtoe snakeskink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the island of Sri Lanka.
The Te Kakahu skink is a critically endangered species of skink native to New Zealand. When discovered, the entire species was inhabiting a single patch of clifftop vegetation on Chalky Island in Fiordland National Park.
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 eggs.
The Chesterfield skink is a species of skink found in New Zealand. It is endemic to the West Coast of New Zealand north of Hokitika. It has an estimated population size of 200 individuals. There is a captive population at Auckland Zoo.
