Ornate skink

Ornate skink
Ornate skink
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Cyclodina
Species: C. ornata
Binomial name
Cyclodina ornata
(Gray, 1843)
Synonyms

Cyclodina pseudornata (Robb 1986)

The ornate skink, Cyclodina ornata, is a rare species of skink endemic to New Zealand. 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.[1] 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.[2]

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.

Ornate skinks can be identified by the white or yellowish "teardrop" edged with black, below each eye.[3]

References

  1. ^ Morris, R; Ballance, A. (2008). Rare Wildlife of New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Random House. pp. 224. ISBN 9781869419127. http://www.randomhouse.co.nz/Book_Display_46.aspx?CategoryId=46&ProductId=465217. 
  2. ^ Downs, D. R. (August 1999). Cyclodina spp. skink recovery plan 1999-2004 (TSRP-27). Threatened Species Recovery Plan Series, No. 27. Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai). pp. 69. ISBN 0-478-021838-9. ISSN 1173-2946. http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/tsrp27.pdf. 
  3. ^ "Gardening for the ornate skink factsheet" (Press release). Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai), Wellington, New Zealand.. 2009. http://doc.govt.nz/publications/conservation/native-animals/reptiles-and-frogs/gardening-for-the-ornate-skink-factsheet/. 
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