Length: SVL up to 88mm, with the tail being longer than the body length

Weight: up to 8.5 grams

Description

A beautiful dark-coloured skink, which is perfectly adapted to the harsh and often violently wave-washed littoral zone of southern Fiordland. 

This species is characterised by its pointed snout, along with the uniform dark glossy brown tones, which are often covered with yellow-green to iridescent green flecking / speckling over the entire upper surface of the animal. This flecking may become much more sparse on the sides of the animal giving the appearance of a broad dark brown band extending from the ear onto the tail. The lower surfaces of the animal are often mottled with a green-grey colouration and may have black speckling. 

Life expectancy

Unknown.

Distribution

Restricted to the southern Fiordland coastline between the Nancy and Dusky Sounds. 

Ecology and habitat

A saxicolous, and strongly heliothermic species that can be seen moving through its rocky coastal habitat during the day, and quite often seen congregating at basking sites. This species primarily inhabits the littoral zone in Fiordland including the exposed rocky foreshore, boulder beaches, and low-growing coastal vegetation on the edge of those habitats. Retreats to deep rock fissures and below boulders when inactive. Known to dive into rockpools when disturbed, and may also do this when looking for prey. 

Social structure

Fiordland skinks are communal baskers, having a propensity to stack on top of each other in the most suitable basking sites. They tend to reach high densities where they occur and may utilise the same refugia when not active.

Breeding biology

Viviparous (live-bearing), with 2-6 young born between January and March.

Diet

The Fiordland skink as with other skink species is omnivorous in nature, it primarily feeds on small coastal invertebrates (amphipods, small snails, etc.), but may also take small fruits from some coastal plant species. It is likely that Fiordland skink would feed on carrion washed into its coastal habitats (dead fish, and birds).

Disease

Largely Unknown.

Conservation strategy

Listed by DOC as "Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable". There is no active management of this species. 

Interesting notes

The Fiordland skink along with the Egg-laying (Oligosoma suteri), Shore (Oligosoma smithi), and Tātahi skinks (Oligosoma "Three Kings, Te Paki, Western Northland") are specially adapted for life in the wave-dominated coastal environments. As such these species have adapted a similar appearance (oftentimes dark colouration, with a pointed snout), and share a strong affinity for swimming and being submerged underwater(up to 5 minutes).  

References

Chapple, D. G., Ritchie, P. A., & Daugherty, C. H. (2009). Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae). Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 52(2), 470-487.

Hardy, G. S. (1977). The New Zealand Scincidae (Reptilia: Lacertilia); a taxonomic and zoogeographic study. New Zealand journal of zoology, 4(3), 221-325.

Hitchmough, R., Barr, B., Knox, C., Lettink, M., Monks, J. M., Patterson, G. B., Reardon, J. T., van Winkel, D., Rolfe, J., & Michel, P. (2021). Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2021. New Zealand threat classification series 35. Wellington: New Zealand Department of Conversation.

Hitchmough, R.A., Barr, B., Lettink, M., Monks, J., Reardon, J., Tocher, M., van Winkel, D., Rolfe, J. (2016). Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2015; New Zealand threat classification series 17. Wellington: New Zealand Department of Conservation.

Jewell, T. (2011). A photographic guide to reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand. Auckland: New Holland Publishing.

Patterson, G. B., & Daugherty, C. H. (1995). Reinstatement of the genus Oligosoma (Reptilia: Lacertilia: Scincidae). Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 25(3), 327-331.

van Winkel, D., Baling, M. & Hitchmough, R. (2018). Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand: A field guide. Auckland: Auckland University Press, 376 pp.