Facts about chevron skink
Chevron skink - Great Barrier Island
What is it?
The chevron skink is one of New Zealand's rarest lizards. It is listed as 'nationally vulnerable' under the Department of Conservation's Threat Classification System.
It is currently only known from Great and Little Barrier Islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Only around 500 sightings have been reported since it was first described in 1906. Most of these have been as a result of recent DOC surveys and monitoring but several have also been recorded by members of the public on Great Barrier Island.
What's in a name?
Chevron skink belongs to the genus Oligosoma (formerly Leiolopisma), members of which are only found in New Zealand. Its scientific name is Oligosoma homalonotum.
The species name homalonotum means smooth backed. Maori know the chevron skink as 'Niho Taniwha' meaning 'teeth of the Taniwha' in reference to the very distinctive v shaped markings on it's back. These chevron like patterns also give the lizard its common name.
Some facts about chevron skinks
- They are New Zealand's longest lizard, capable of growing to over 30cm from the nose to the tip of the tail.
- Dark bands extend down the face of the chevron skink from below the eye to just under the lower lip. Between these two bands is a distinctive pale coloured "teardrop" shape. These patterns are unique to each chevron skink and can be used to identify individuals.
- Chevron skinks are capable of making noises and will often grunt or squeak on being disturbed.
- Female chevron skinks give birth to live young in mid to late summer, and can have up to 8 at once. It is not known if chevron skinks breed every year.
- Chevron skinks are good climbers and have been shown to climb trees during periods of heavy rain to avoid flooding in the streams and creeks in which they live.
- Most sightings of chevron skinks have been in close proximity to forested streams or other damp places especially in summer. This is thought to be due to their susceptibility to dehydration. Despite this, some adults have been known to turn up well away from streams over winter.
Lost for over 60 years
First scientifically described in 1906, the chevron skink was only reported twice more until the 1970s. It had essentially been "lost" from science for over 60 years. This was partly due to a mix up of museum labels that gave its locality as Flat Island in the Mokohinau Islands group. The label should have read Great Barrier Island.
Until the early 1990s the chevron skink was thought to survive only on Great Barrier Island. Then in 1991 a single sub-adult chevron skink was discovered on neighbouring Little Barrier Island. Despite intensive surveys since then, only one other chevron skink has been found on the island.
On Great Barrier they have now been recorded all over the island including up near the summit of Mt Hirakimata (over 600m a.s.l). Historical records suggest that they may also have occurred on the mainland in the past.
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