Ornate skink

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Ornate skink
Oligosoma ornatum 30838816.jpg
Near Palmerston North, New Zealand
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. ornatum
Binomial name
Oligosoma ornatum
(Gray, 1843)
Synonyms [2]
  • Cyclodina pseudornata(Robb 1986)
  • Cyclodina ornata(Gray, 1843)
  • Tiliqua ornataGray, 1843

The ornate skink (Oligosoma ornatum) is a rare species of skink endemic to New Zealand. once widespread across the North Island, habitat destruction and predation by introduced species has now reduced their range to scattered localities throughout the North Island and offshore islands.

Contents

Taxonomy

The species was first described as Tiliqua ornata by John Edward Gray in 1843. [3] It was placed in the genus Cyclodina by Graham S. Hardy in 1977, [2] and was moved to its modern genus Oligosoma in 2009 based on phylogenetic analysis. [4] Both the species epithet ornatum and the species' common name refer to the ornate patterns on the skink species. [5]

Description

Ornate skinks have a snout–vent length of up to 84 mm (3.3 in), and can weigh as much as 11.5 g (0.41 oz). The species has a short snout, a teardrop marking beneath its eyes, and black markings along the neck and shoulders. [5] Individuals of the species vary in terms of the shade of brown on their bodies and patterning. The population found on Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands is morphologically distinct, having longer snouts, more slender bodies, and less contrasting underside surfaces. Specimens from the Northland Region can also have more distinct patterns and markings. [5]

Ornate skinks can be identified by the white or yellowish "teardrop" edged with black, below each eye, [6] and as the species is relatively larger compared to other visually similar species, such as the copper skink. [5]

Behaviour

The species prefers to live in damp or humid environments, typically forests and grasslands, and areas with significant amounts of damp leaf litter. It is primarily active during twilight. [5] Ornate skinks typically feed on small invertebrates. [5] Ornate skinks mate in spring, giving birth to between four and six individuals over summer, typically between January and February. [5]

Ornate skinks co-exist widely with copper skinks, and at selected localities with robust skinks, Mokohinau skinks, McGregor's skinks, Poor Knights skinks and on Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands, marbled skinks. Ornate skinks are not currently known to co-exist with Whitaker's skinks.

Distribution

The species is widespread across the North Island of New Zealand, except for the Hawkes Bay area. Additionally, the species can be found on many offshore islands near the North Island, including Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands, Great Barrier Island, and Little Barrier Island. [5] This species was once widespread through much of the North Island and on many offshore islands in the Hauraki Gulf and north of the Coromandel Peninsula. [7] Habitat destruction and predation by introduced species has now reduced their range to scattered localities throughout the North Island as far south as Wellington, as well as on the Three Kings Islands, Great Barrier Island, and a few other offshore islands. [8]

Conservation status

In 2012 the Department of Conservation classified the ornate skink as At Risk under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. It was judged as meeting the criteria for At Risk threat status as a result of it having a low to high ongoing or predicted decline. This skink is also regarded as being Conservation Dependant. [9]

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">Long-toed skink</span> Species of lizard

The long-toed skink is a species of skink of the family Scincidae, endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Geoff Patterson in 1997. It is only known from a few sites in the South Island of New Zealand and little is known of its habits. It seems to prefer dry, rocky habitats, usually eroding stream terraces or scree slopes. It is diurnal and heliothermic. Maximum snout-vent length is about 70 mm.

<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">New Zealand striped skink</span> Species of lizard

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.

<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">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">Chevron skink</span> Species of lizard

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.

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

The small-scaled skink is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. The first specimen was captured in 1971 on Motutaiko Island, Lake Taupō but it is now known to be endemic to the central North Island of New Zealand in small population pockets. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

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

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 (skinks) that is native to 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.

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">Barrier skink</span> Species of lizard

The Barrier skink is a species of medium-sized skink, a lizard in the subfamily Eugongylinae of 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.

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

The Mokohinau skink, also known commonly as Towns' skink and the Hauraki 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.

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

Oligosoma lineoocellatum, commonly known as the Canterbury spotted skink, is one of a species complex of several related spotted skink species from New Zealand.

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

The brown skink is a species of skink native to New Zealand.

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.

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

Oligosoma kakerakau, known as the Whirinaki skink and the Kakerakau skink, is a species of skink found in New Zealand. First observed at Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park in 2003, the skink is mainly known for a population occurring at Bream Head Scenic Reserve near Whangārei. Oligosoma kakerakau has a distinctive teardrop marking that distinguishes it from other similar members of Oligosoma.

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.

References

  1. ↑ Hitchmough, R.; van Winkel, D.; Lettink, M. (2019). "Oligosoma ornatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T120189934A120192644. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T120189934A120192644.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Oligosoma ornatum". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  3. ↑ Gray, J.E. (1843). "Descriptions of the reptiles and Amphibia hitherto observed in New Zealand". Travels in New Zealand; with contributions to the geography, geology, botany, and natural history of that country. 2: 202.
  4. ↑ Chapple, D.G.; Patterson, J.B.; Bell, T.; Daugherty, C.H. (2008). "Taxonomic Revision of the New Zealand Copper Skink (Cyclodina aenea: Squamata: Scincidae) Species Complex, with Descriptions of Two New Species". Journal of Herpetology. 42 (3): 437–452. doi:10.1670/07-110.1. S2CID   86821723.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 van Winkel, Dylan; Baling, Marleen; Hitchmough, Rod (2018). Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand (1st ed.). Auckland: Auckland University Press. pp. 282–283. ISBN   978-1-86940-937-1. OL   40449345M. Wikidata   Q76013985.
  6. ↑ "Gardening for the ornate skink factsheet" (Press release). Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai), Wellington, New Zealand. 2009.
  7. ↑ Morris, R; Ballance, A. (2008). Rare Wildlife of New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Random House. p. 224. ISBN   978-1-86941-912-7.[ permanent dead link ]
  8. ↑ Downs, D. R. (August 1999). Cyclodina spp. skink recovery plan 1999-2004 (TSRP-27). Threatened Species Recovery Plan Series, No. 27 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai). p. 69. ISBN   0-478-21838-9. ISSN   1173-2946. OCLC   56141853.
  9. ↑ 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.
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