Open Bay Islands skink

Open Bay Islands skink

Nationally Endangered (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species: O. taumakae
Binomial name
Oligosoma taumakae
Chapple & Patterson, 2007

The Open Bay Islands skink (or Open Bay Island skink), Oligosoma taumakae, is a species of skink. It was described from the Open Bay Islands, off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. This species is diagnosed on the basis of several morphological characteristics, and its specific status is supported by mitochondrial sequence data (ND2, ND4). The new species appears to be most closely related to Oligosoma acrinasum, Oligosoma infrapunctatum, Oligosoma otagense and Oligosoma waimatense. Predation by a flightless rail, the weka, which is native to New Zealand, but was introduced to the Open Bay Islands, is a major conservation concern.[2] Until recently known only from the Open Bay Islands (both Taumaka and Popotai Islands), the species has subsequently been discovered on two apparently predator-free vegetated rock stacks located off the coast of Barn Bay, 52 km southwest of the Open Bay Islands.[3]

Physical characteristics

Max SVL (Snout to Vent length) = 78.8 mm

Conservation Status

As of 2012 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified the Open Bay Islands Skink as Nationally Endangered under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. ↑ Chapple, D.G.; Patterson, G.B. 2007: A new skink species (Oligosoma taumakae sp. nov.; Reptilia: Scincidae) from the Open Bay Islands, New Zealand. New Zealand journal of zoology, 34(4): 347-357. doi:10.1080/03014220709510094 PDF
  3. ↑ Lettink, M.; Hopkins, G.; Wilson, R.L. (in press, 2012): A significant range extension and sanctuary for the rare Open Bay Island skink (Oligosoma taumakae). New Zealand journal of zoology, doi:10.1080/03014223.2012.707661
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