Oligosoma salmo

The Chesterfield skink (Oligosoma salmo) is a species of skink found in New Zealand.[1][2] It is endemic to the West Coast of New Zealand north of Hokitika.[3][4] It has an estimated population size of 200 individuals.[4][5] There is a captive population at Auckland Zoo.[5][6]

Oligosoma salmo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. salmo
Binomial name
Oligosoma salmo
Melzer, Hitchmough, Bell, Chapple, & Patterson, 2019

Description of species

It is up to 85mm SVL (usually < 75mm in length) and up to 10.5g in weight.[3] The Chesterfield Skink has a prehensile tail it uses to grip objects and aid climbing.[4]

Similar species

Similar to the Speckled skink (O. infrapunctatum) and Alborn skink (Oligosoma albornense).[3] The Chesterfield Skink has a more slender build than the Speckled skink.[3]

Conservation

Skinks and People

In New Zealand, it is against the law to hold lizards without a permit.[7][8] Holding skinks is very stressful for them and they can drop their tail.[7] The tail contains an important fat store so losing a tail can reduce the chance of survival of the skink.[7]

References
  1. Oligosoma salmo at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 September 2019.
  2. Melzer, Sabine; Hitchmough, Rod A.; Bell, Trent; Chapple, David G.; Patterson, Geoff B. (2019-06-26). "Lost and Found: Taxonomic revision of the speckled skink (Oligosoma infrapunctatum; Reptilia; Scincidae) species complex from New Zealand reveals a potential cryptic extinction, resurrection of two species, and description of three new species". Zootaxa. 4623 (3): 441–484. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4623.3.2. ISSN 1175-5334.
  3. Van Winkel, Dylan. Reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand : a field guide. Baling, Marleen, Hitchmough, Rod. Auckland, New Zealand. ISBN 978-1-86940-937-1. OCLC 1048295078.
  4. "Chesterfield Skink".
  5. "Captive Population of rare skink established".
  6. "Threatened wildlife thrown a lifeline with new support package".
  7. "Don't touch lizards".
  8. "Holding lizards in captivity".


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