Sinbad skink
Encyclopedia
The Sinbad Skink, Oligosoma pikitanga is a rare species of medium sized skink
endemic to New Zealand
where it lives in an alpine habitat in Sinbad Gully, in Fiordland National Park
. It is one of two species of New Zealand Skink found in the Fiordland
region of the South Island
that lives exclusively in the alpine zone, the other being the closely related and morphlogically similar Barrier skink
, Oligosoma judgei. The species was only discovered in 2004 and was formally described in 2008 - the Sinbad skink is thought to be very rare and is viewed to be at risk of extinction as a result of the predations of invasive mammalian species such as rat
s and stoat
s.
The specific epithet means mountain climber in maori
and is a reference to the vertiginous alpine habitat of the species. The species was only discovered in 2004- by New Zealand herpetologist Tony Jewell - and it was formally described in 2008; the expedition which discovered this species also found another species of skink (the as yet undescribed "Mahogany Skink") and several new species of invertebrate
s in Sinbad Gully; all completely new to science. The Sinbad Skink is a medium to large sized skink and may grow to an SVL of 91mm with a total length of up to 200mm. The toes and tail are very long and the upper surface colouration is black on the back with prominent green speckles, varying to predominantly green with black mottling. The sides are black and spotted irregularly with pink or grey and the belly is a vivid orange colour - the last feature provides easy distinction from other, similar skink speces found in southern NZ.
It is thought to be vivaparous
(give birth to live young) like almost every other Oligosoma species. Sinbad skinks are agile and fast moving and are thought to be diurnal and avid sun baskers. Despite this, individuals can be hard to find, keeping a low profile amongst low vegetation and seldom venturing out into the open. The elongate body shape and relatively high scale counts suggest a saxicolous (rock dwelling) existence similar to that seen in closely related species with similar features such as the Grand skink
and Scree skink
. The striking green colouration also suggests a strong association with the vegetation of its habitat. Very little is known about the Sinbad Skink and the incredibly harsh weather conditions in Sinbad Gully - which has an annual rainfall
up to 12 metres a year and an average year round temperature of just 6.5 degrees celsius - as well as the dangerous nature of this skink's cliffside habitat mean that its behaviour is very poorly known. A DOC meeting in 2007 classified the species as being of "high regional priority" and as requiring urgent surveys, research and conservation action.
Skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...
endemic to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
where it lives in an alpine habitat in Sinbad Gully, in Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park occupies the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest of the 14 national parks in New Zealand, with an area of 12,500 km², and a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site...
. It is one of two species of New Zealand Skink found in the Fiordland
Fiordland
Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the western-most third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes and its ocean-flooded, steep western valleys...
region of the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
that lives exclusively in the alpine zone, the other being the closely related and morphlogically similar Barrier skink
Barrier skink
The Barrier skink, Oligosoma judgei, is a species of medium sized skink endemic to New Zealand where it lives in the alpine habitat of the Darran and Takitimu mountains of Fiordland...
, Oligosoma judgei. The species was only discovered in 2004 and was formally described in 2008 - the Sinbad skink is thought to be very rare and is viewed to be at risk of extinction as a result of the predations of invasive mammalian species such as rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s and stoat
Stoat
The stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
s.
The specific epithet means mountain climber in maori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
and is a reference to the vertiginous alpine habitat of the species. The species was only discovered in 2004- by New Zealand herpetologist Tony Jewell - and it was formally described in 2008; the expedition which discovered this species also found another species of skink (the as yet undescribed "Mahogany Skink") and several new species of invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s in Sinbad Gully; all completely new to science. The Sinbad Skink is a medium to large sized skink and may grow to an SVL of 91mm with a total length of up to 200mm. The toes and tail are very long and the upper surface colouration is black on the back with prominent green speckles, varying to predominantly green with black mottling. The sides are black and spotted irregularly with pink or grey and the belly is a vivid orange colour - the last feature provides easy distinction from other, similar skink speces found in southern NZ.
It is thought to be vivaparous
Vivipary
Vivipary has two different meanings. In animals, it means development of the embryo inside the body of the mother, eventually leading to live birth, as opposed to laying eggs...
(give birth to live young) like almost every other Oligosoma species. Sinbad skinks are agile and fast moving and are thought to be diurnal and avid sun baskers. Despite this, individuals can be hard to find, keeping a low profile amongst low vegetation and seldom venturing out into the open. The elongate body shape and relatively high scale counts suggest a saxicolous (rock dwelling) existence similar to that seen in closely related species with similar features such as the Grand skink
Grand skink
The grand skink, Oligosoma grande, is an endangered species of large skink endemic to the central Otago region of New Zealand.- Physical characteristics :...
and Scree skink
Scree skink
The scree skink, Oligosoma waimatense, is a species of skink native to several sites throughout the South Island of New Zealand. A member of the family Scincidae, it was described by Geoff Patterson in 1997. It favours rocky habitats, particularly greywacke screes....
. The striking green colouration also suggests a strong association with the vegetation of its habitat. Very little is known about the Sinbad Skink and the incredibly harsh weather conditions in Sinbad Gully - which has an annual rainfall
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
up to 12 metres a year and an average year round temperature of just 6.5 degrees celsius - as well as the dangerous nature of this skink's cliffside habitat mean that its behaviour is very poorly known. A DOC meeting in 2007 classified the species as being of "high regional priority" and as requiring urgent surveys, research and conservation action.