Otago skink [SEP] parent taxon
Otago skink
The Otago skink ("Oligosoma otagense") is a rare, endangered species of large skink in the family Scincidae, found in the rocky canyons and grassy patches of Central Otago, New Zealand.
Physical characteristics.
Otago skinks are large compared to other New Zealand skinks, growing up to . They are marked with distinctive black, yellow, and green spots, which provides excellent camouflage in their rocky habitat of lichen-covered rocks and schist outcrops. Juveniles have more of a yellow base with dark
the last 100 years, presumably driven by land use changes, particularly the intensification of farming, and the introduction of mammalian predators.
Conservation.
The Otago skink has been assessed as Endangered by the IUCN, based on its very limited range and low total population. As of 2012 the Department of Conservation (DOC) has classified the Otago Skink as Nationally Critical under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, and research into conservation management is ongoing.
Most threats to the species seem to derive from anthropogenic sources. Agriculture