Mokohinau skink

The Mokohinau skink (Oligosoma townsi), also known commonly as Towns' skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.

Mokohinau skink
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. townsi
Binomial name
Oligosoma townsi
(Chapple et al., 2008)
Synonyms[1]
  • Cyclodina townsi
    Chapple et al., 2008
  • Oligosoma townsi
    — Chapple et al., 2009

Etymology

The specific name, townsi, is in honor of Kiwi herpetologist David Towns.[2]

Geographic range

In New Zealand O. townsi is found in the Northland area including Three Kings Islands, the Poor Knights Islands, and other offshore islands.[3]

Habitat

O. townsi occupies broadleaf forest and low scrub, usually amongst boulders and rock screes.

Reproduction and behaviour

O. townsi is viviparous[1] and is believed to be nocturnal.

Description

O. townsi reaches a maximum body size of about 87 millimetres (3.4 in) snout-vent length (SVL).[4]

References

  1. Species Oligosoma townsi at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Cyclodina townsi, p. 267).
  3. Chapple DG, Ritchie PA, Daugherty CH (2009). "Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 52 (2): 470–87. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.03.021. PMID 19345273.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) (Oligosoma townsi, new combination).
  4. Chapple DG, Patterson GB, Gleeson DM, Daugherty CH, Ritchie PA (2008). "Taxonomic revision of the marbled skink (Cyclodina oliveri, Reptilia: Scincidae) species complex, with a description of a new species". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 35 (2): 129–146. doi:10.1080/03014220809510110.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) (Cyclodina townsi, new species).

Further reading

  • van Winkel D, Baling M, Hitchmough R (2019). Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand: A Field Guide. Auckland: Auckland University Press. 376 pp. ISBN 978-1869409371.


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