Kingdom Animalia Class Reptilia Family Scincidae Scientific name Oligosoma taumakae | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Genus Oligosoma Rank Species | |
Similar Fiordland skink, Te Kakahu skink, Oligosoma notosaurus, Scree skink, Sinbad skink | ||
The Open Bay Islands skink (or Open Bay Island skink), Oligosoma taumakae, is a species of skink. It was described from the Open Bay Islands, off the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand. This species is diagnosed on the basis of several morphological characteristics, and its specific status is supported by mitochondrial sequence data (ND2, ND4). The new species appears to be most closely related to Oligosoma acrinasum, Oligosoma infrapunctatum, Oligosoma otagense and Oligosoma waimatense. Predation by a flightless rail, the weka, which is native to New Zealand, but was introduced to the Open Bay Islands, is a major conservation concern. Until recently known only from the Open Bay Islands (both Taumaka and Popotai Islands), the species has subsequently been discovered on two apparently predator-free vegetated rock stacks located off the coast of Barn Bay, 52 km southwest of the Open Bay Islands.
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Physical characteristics
Max SVL (Snout to Vent length) = 78.8 mm
Conservation Status
As of 2012 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified the Open Bay Islands Skink as Nationally Endangered under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.