Robust skink

The robust skink (Oligosoma alani, formerly Cyclodina alani) [2] is a large, rare species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.[1]

Robust skink
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. alani
Binomial name
Oligosoma alani
(Robb, 1970)[2]
Synonyms[3]
  • Leiolopisma alani
    Robb, 1970
  • Cyclodina alani
    — Hardy, 1977
  • Oligosoma alani
    — Chapple et al., 2009

Geographic range

O. alani was once widespread throughout the North Island[4][5] but has been wiped out in most parts of its former range by predation from several species of introduced rats. It now occurs naturally only on six small islands off the north-eastern coast of the North Island.[4]

Etymology

The specific epithet, alani, was given by the describer Joan Robb in honour of her nephew, Alan Robb.[5]

Behaviour and habitat

The robust skink is strongly nocturnal and lives under rocks, or in seabird burrows, tree stumps, and fallen logs. It prefers well vegetated areas with plenty of leaf litter and tolerates coastal areas as long as there is dense vegetation cover.[6] Studies of the robust skink show that it is unusually vulnerable to losing water through its skin, which may explain its preference for damp environments such as crevices, bird burrows, rotting logs, and closely matted vegetation.[7]

Reproduction

O. alani is viviparous.[3]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oligosoma alani.
Wikispecies has information related to Oligosoma alani.
  1. Hitchmough, R. (2021). "Oligosoma alani". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T6010A120190303. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T6010A120190303.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Chapple, David G.; Ritchie, Peter A.; Daugherty, Charles H. (August 2009). "Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 52 (2): 470–487. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.03.021. PMID 19345273. (Oligosoma alani, new combination).
  3. Species Oligosoma alani at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  4. Morris, Rod; Ballance, Alison (2008). Rare Wildlife of New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Random House. p. 224. ISBN 978-1-86941-912-7.
  5. Gill, Brian; Whitaker, Tony (2001). New Zealand Frogs and Reptiles. David Bateman.
  6. Towns, David R. (August 1999), "Cyclodina spp. skink recovery plan 1999-2004 (TSRP-27). Threatened Species Recovery Plan Series, No. 27" (PDF), Science for Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai): 69, ISBN 0478218389, ISSN 1173-2946
  7. Cree, A.; Daugherty, C. H.; Towns, D. R. Unpublished research. Cited in DOC TSRP-27.

Further reading
  • Hardy GS (1977). "The New Zealand Scincidae (Reptilia: Lacertilia); a taxonomic and zoogeographic study". New Zealand Journal of Zoology 4 (3): 221–325. (Cyclodina alani, new combination, p. 270).
  • Hoskins AJ, Hare KM, Miller KA, Schumann N, Chapple DG (2017). "Repeatability, locomotor performance and trade-offs between performance traits in two lizard species, Oligosoma alani and O. smithi ". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 122 (4): 850–859.
  • Robb J (1970). "A new skink of the genus Leiolopisma from New Zealand". Proceedings of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen (Serie C) 73: 228–229. (Leiolopisma alani, new species).


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