Heavenly Herpetofauna of the Hauraki Gulf: Part II Skinks

New Zealand has 78 known species of skink but, as with the gecko, new species are being identified quite regularly, the Hauraki Gulf has at least eight.

Here are three Gulf locals and two that are regionally extinct – they were once here and could be again as there are plans to reintroduce them to pest-free islands in the gulf.

Rakino has three species of skink that I know of, the Copper skink, the Moko, and the Shore skink.

Others in the Gulf are the Chevron, the Striped, the Hauraki, the Suters, and the Ornate.

Copper skink (Oligosoma aeneum)

If you’re a North Islander, then this is the skink you are most likely to encounter, as it’s found almost all over. It is at risk from competition with the introduced plague skink though, so it’s vitally important to be careful when going to offshore islands not to accidentally introduce them. One of three species present on Rakino.

https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-aeneum

Moko skink (Oligosoma moco)

Another Rakino local (I saw one just the other day) the Moko is quite distinctive, with broad chocolate stripes on each side. You can impress strangers at parties by informing them that Mokos are heliothermic and occupy their own clade on the Oligosoma phylogentic tree.

https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-moco

Egg-laying skink (Oligosoma suteri)

New Zealand’s only egg-laying skink is mostly only found on pest-free islands, including some in the Hauraki Gulf. They live around the shore and sometimes forage underwater.

https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-suteri

Robust skink (Oligosoma alani)

New Zealand’s largest skink, the Robust was once present in the Gulf, but is now regionally extinct. Hopefully moves to relocate them to pest-free islands will see them here again.

https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-alani

MacGregor’s skink (Oligosoma alani)

https://www.reptiles.org.nz/herpetofauna/native/oligosoma-macgregori

Also regionally extinct, this crepuscular beauty may also be reintroduced to the Gulf.

All photos courtesy of © Nick Harker