- Home
- Herpetofauna Index
- Native
- Oligosoma "Okuru"
Oligosoma "Okuru"
Okuru skink
Oligosoma "Okuru"
Length: SVL up to 65mm, with the tail being equal to or slightly longer than the body length
Weight: unknown
Description
A mysterious little skink that is so far only known from one individual found in the year 2000. The dorsal surface is golden-brown, with a few scattered black flecks, a darker brown, but faint mid-dorsal stripe, and cream-coloured dorsolateral stripes. Lateral stripes are chocolate-brown, smooth edged, with a black border, and white mid-lateral stripe below. White mid-lateral stripe runs below eye and through ear opening. Ventral surface is yellow-bronze on the torso and tail, throat is white / grey. Tail with strongly keeled scales, giving this skink a distinctive appearance.
The Okuru skink has a strongly keeled tail and shares this trait with the small-eared skink (Oligosoma stenotis) of Stewart Island, and several members of the cryptic skink complex (Oligosoma inconspicuum). Can be distinguished from other species by the combination of three supraocular scales; strongly keeled tail; absence of markings on forelimb; and presence of lobules in ear.
Life expectancy
Unknown.
Distribution
The only known specimen was found near Okuru, south of Haast on the South Island's West Coast.
Ecology and habitat
Presumed to be diurnal. The only specimen found was found in lowland pākihi (Sphagnum moss swamp), by a moss-picker.
Social structure
Unknown.
Breeding biology
Unknown.
Diet
Unknown, but presumed to be insectivorous and frugivorous in common with other New Zealand skinks (Oligosoma spp.).
Disease
Unknown.
Conservation strategy
No known populations of the Okuru skink exist. Further survey effort is required to locate populations of this species.
Interesting notes
The Okuru skink is known from only one individual collected in pākihi (Sphagnum moss swamp). Several searches in the area where the skink was found have failed to locate additional animals. The species may be incredibly rare / isolated, or could already be extinct.
The Okuru skink has a distinctive keeled tail, and appears to be most similar to the small-eared skink (Oligosoma stenotis) of Stewart Island, which shares this feature.
References
van Winkel, D., Baling, M. & Hitchmough, R. (2018). Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand: A field guide. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 376 pp.