Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Otago skink (Oligosoma otagense), recorded as Endangered
Otago skink (Oligosoma otagense). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Otago skink

Oligosoma otagense

Otago skink is a skink in the family Scincidae — Oligosoma otagense, recorded as Endangered and tied to New Zealand.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Oligosoma otagense
Recorded from
New Zealand
Taxonomy
Squamata · Scincidae · Oligosoma

Appearance

Juveniles have more of a yellow base with dark blotches and shorter limbs.

Otago skinks are large compared to other New Zealand skinks, growing up to 12 inches (30 cm).

Range and habitat

Otago skinks are only found in very specific locations in Otago. Most are found in eastern Otago, between Macreas Flat and Sutton, usually up to 1,000 meters in elevation. There is also a smaller population in western Otago between Lake Hāwea and Lindis Pass.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Diet

Most skinks forage in leaf litter or under cover. Burrowing species slip through sand or soil more than they climb.

In crisis

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.

This was compounded by the introduction of mammalian predators. The Otago skink, having historically been exposed to only limited predation from native birds, was heavily impacted by the spread of house cats, rabbits, ferrets, and weasels in conjunction with the increasing lack of sheltering habitats.

Otago skink is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Otago skink, Wikidata item Q910501. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Same genus

Photograph of Barrier skink (Oligosoma judgei), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Barrier skink

Oligosoma judgei
Photograph of Oligosoma albornense (Oligosoma albornense), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Oligosoma albornense

Oligosoma albornense
Photograph of Oligosoma awakopaka (Oligosoma awakopaka), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Oligosoma awakopaka

Oligosoma awakopaka
Photograph of Burgan skink (Oligosoma burganae), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Burgan skink

Oligosoma burganae

Quick answers

What is Otago skink?
Otago skink is a skink in the family Scincidae — Oligosoma otagense.
What is the conservation status of Otago skink?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Oligosoma otagense. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Otago skink live?
A phylogeographic analysis found a separation in lineages but that gene flow was still occurring in neighboring locations, and suggested that the two regions be assessed and treated separately.
Why is Otago skink in crisis?
The Otago skink has been assessed as Endangered by the IUCN, based on its very limited range and low total population.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Oligosoma otagense?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Otago skink a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.