Introduction

Detailed species information from your search of the Atlas.
Scientific name:
Oligosoma longipes
Common name:
long-toed skink
Naming authority:
Patterson, 1997
Bio status category:
Indigenous (Endemic)
IUCN threat status:
** Not Classified **
NZ threat classification:
Nationally Vulnerable

Refer to www.doc.govt.nz/nztcs for NZ threat classification system details.

long-toed skink. Photo: BW Thomas.
long-toed skink

Habitat

  • Dry rocky areas, particularly rock piles, boulder tumbles and eroding river terraces, in tussock grassland.
  • Diurnal, avid sun-basker.
  • Not particularly abundant.
  • Lives among rocks at ground level.

Description

  • Back grey to grey-brown with somewhat indistinct paler and darker spots and flecks, and rarely a rudimentary dark mid-dorsal stripe.
  • Sides with broad dark-brown stripe above (bordered by thin pale, notched stripes) and below this, grey with dark flecks.
  • Undersurface grey with dark speckles.
  • Measures up to 67 mm from snout tip to vent.
  • Toes and tail very long.

Distribution

  • Inland Marlborough and Canterbury.
  • Of sparse occurrence.

Notes

  • The scientific name means 'long toes'.
  • Notes about NZ threat classification (Hitchmough 2002): Waimakariri, Arthurs Pass.
  • Notes about 2008-10 cycle of NZ threat classification for Reptiles (Hitchmough et al 2010): As for southern sp.
  • Notes about 2012-14 cycle of NZ threat classification for Reptiles: (Hitchmough, et al.
  • 2012): Few recent surveys, none found.
  • Generally few, scattered records.
  • One stronghold population.
  • Assuming only north of the Clarence catchment.
  • Fewer than 15 sub-populations known, none known to contain more than 500 mature individuals.
  • Decline predicted at 10-30% over 3 generations.

Statistical information and distribution map

  Before 1988 Since 1988
Live Specimen 22 62
Total 22 62

  Live or dead specimen or shed skin
  Bone or fossil

long-toed skink Distribution Map.'
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