Green Skink

About the Green Skink

The Southland green skink (Oligosoma chloronoton) is a species of diurnal skink endemic to New Zealand. It was first described by Hardy in 1977. Recent split within the Oligosoma chloronoton species complex, has reduced the distribution of Southland green skinks to mainland Southland and a few islands off Stewart Island in Foveaux Strait. They can be found in a range of habitats from coastal to alpine, preferring to remain near dense vegetation or rock piles, where they feed mostly on insects and some berries.

This large species of skink weighs up to 23.3g and has a snout-vent length of 125mm, with an intact tail slightly longer than this length. Individuals typically have a relatively blunt snout, with back (dorsal) colouring ranging from pink- or copper-brown to green, from which they take their name, with black or light green spots (ocelli) extending the length of the body from behind the head to the tail tip. The underside (ventral) colouring ranges from light to dark grey, often with pink hues, and may be of one solid colour or with black flecks. The side (lateral) colouring is a broad, dark coloured, tending to black band, usually... Wikipedia →