Jump to content

Oligosoma smithi: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
taxonomy
Distribution
Line 41: Line 41:


==Distribution and habitat==
==Distribution and habitat==
The species is native to the northern half of the [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]], occurring on the eastern coast from the [[Aupōuri Peninsula]] in the north south to [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]]. Closely-related skinks on the western shore of the North Island and the [[Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands|Three Kings Islands]] were formerly considered members of this species, but are now known as [[Tātahi skink|tātahi skinks]] (''Oligosoma'' aff. ''smithi'' "Three Kings, Te Paki, Western Northland").<ref name="van Winkel" />
The species is native to the northern half of the [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]]. It is always found near the shoreline and prefers open areas such as around driftwood at the high tide mark.<ref name=HZ>{{cite web|title=Shore Skink|url=http://hamiltonzoo.co.nz/our-animals/reptiles/shore-skink/|website=Hamilton Zoo|publisher=Hamilton Zoo|accessdate=13 December 2015}}</ref>

It is always found near the shoreline and prefers open areas such as around driftwood at the high tide mark.<ref name="HZ">{{cite web|title=Shore Skink|url=http://hamiltonzoo.co.nz/our-animals/reptiles/shore-skink/|website=Hamilton Zoo|publisher=Hamilton Zoo|accessdate=13 December 2015}}</ref>


==Behavior==
==Behavior==
Line 52: Line 54:


==Taxonomy==
==Taxonomy==
This species was first described as ''Mocoa smithii'' by [[John Edward Gray]]. The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]], ''smithi'', is in honor of Gray's nephew, British naval officer Lt Alexander John Smith, who collected the original specimens in the early 1840s, and presented them to his uncle at the British Museum.<ref>{{Cite Q|Q76013985}}</ref> After being placed in several other genera it was moved in 1995 to the genus ''[[Oligosoma]]'', with all other New Zealand skink species.
This species was first described as ''Mocoa smithii'' by [[John Edward Gray]]. The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]], ''smithi'', is in honor of Gray's nephew, British naval officer Lt Alexander John Smith, who collected the original specimens in the early 1840s, and presented them to his uncle at the British Museum.<ref name="van Winkel">{{Cite Q|Q76013985|pages=260–261}}</ref> After being placed in several other genera it was moved in 1995 to the genus ''[[Oligosoma]]'', with all other New Zealand skink species.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 10:41, 15 August 2024

Oligosoma smithi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. smithi
Binomial name
Oligosoma smithi
(Gray, 1845)
Synonyms[1]

Oligosoma smithi, commonly known as the shore skink,[2] short-tailed skink,[2] Smith's ground skink,[3] Smith's moco,[4] and Smith's skink,[2] is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae (skinks) that is native to New Zealand.

Description

Scientific specimen collected from the Mercury Islands

Oligosoma smithi is small species of skink, growing to a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 8 cm (3.1 in). It is well camouflaged, and may be found in a range of colours, sometimes almost black.

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand, occurring on the eastern coast from the Aupōuri Peninsula in the north south to Gisborne. Closely-related skinks on the western shore of the North Island and the Three Kings Islands were formerly considered members of this species, but are now known as tātahi skinks (Oligosoma aff. smithi "Three Kings, Te Paki, Western Northland").[5]

It is always found near the shoreline and prefers open areas such as around driftwood at the high tide mark.[2]

Behavior

Oligosoma smithi is diurnal (active during the day) and spends most of its time hunting or basking in the sun.[citation needed] It eats insects and probably anything that moves and fits in its mouth.[citation needed]

Like most New Zealand skinks, it is viviparous (reproduces by giving birth to live young).[citation needed]

Conservation status

As of 2012 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified Oligosoma smithi as Not Threatened under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[6]

Taxonomy

This species was first described as Mocoa smithii by John Edward Gray. The specific name, smithi, is in honor of Gray's nephew, British naval officer Lt Alexander John Smith, who collected the original specimens in the early 1840s, and presented them to his uncle at the British Museum.[5] After being placed in several other genera it was moved in 1995 to the genus Oligosoma, with all other New Zealand skink species.

References

  1. ^ "Oligosoma smithi ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  2. ^ a b c d "Shore Skink". Hamilton Zoo. Hamilton Zoo. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  3. ^ 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. (Oligosoma smithi, p. 246).
  4. ^ Gray, 1845.
  5. ^ a b van Winkel, Dylan; Baling, Marleen; Hitchmough, Rod (2018). Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand (1st ed.). Auckland: Auckland University Press. pp. 260–261. ISBN 978-1-86940-937-1. OL 40449345M. Wikidata Q76013985.
  6. ^ Hitchmough, Rod; Anderson, Peter; Barr, Ben; Monks, Jo; Lettink, Marieke; Reardon, James; Tocher, Mandy; Whitaker, Tony. "Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2012" (PDF). Department of Conservation. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 18 July 2015.

Further reading

  • Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. ... Scincidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I-XL. (Lygosoma smithii, pp. 274–275).
  • Gray JE (1845). Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xxviii + 289 pp. (Mocoa smithii, new species, pp. 82–83).