Shore skink


The shore skink '', also commonly known as the short-tailed skink, Smith's ground skink, Smith's moco, and Smith's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is native to the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand.

Habitat

The shore skink is always found near the shoreline and prefers open areas such as around driftwood at the high tide mark.

Diet

Oligosoma smithi eats insects and probably anything that moves and fits in its mouth.

Behavior

The shore skink is diurnal and spends most of its time hunting or basking in the sun.

Description

O. smithi is small species of skink, growing to a snout-to-vent length of. It is well camouflaged, and may be found in a range of colours, sometimes almost black. Like most New Zealand skinks, it is viviparous.

Conservation status

As of 2012 the Department of Conservation classified the shore skink as Not Threatened under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

Etymology

The specific name, smithi, is in honor of British naval officer Lt Alexander Smith who collected the original specimens in the 1840s, and presented them to his uncle John Edward Gray, who described the new species.