Tussock Skink

Tussock Skink

Pseudemoia pagenstecheri

Silhouette: Oliver Griffith · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Kosciuszko National Park
14 Verified sightings at Kosciuszko National Park From 2019 to 2026
23 Verified sightings across all 3 parks From 2019 to 2026
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Tussock Skink

Pseudemoia pagenstecheri, also known commonly as the southern grass tussock skink and the southern tussock grass skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Eugongylinae of the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

The specific name, pagenstecheri, is in honour of German zoologist Heinrich Alexander Pagenstecher. Pseudemoia pagenstecheri is found in eastern New South Wales, Tasmania, and northeastern Victoria, Australia. The preferred natural habitat of Pseudemoia pagenstecheri is tussock grassland, especially medium to tall tussock grass.

Pseudemoia pagenstecheri is viviparous. Pseudemoia pagenstecheri is known to hybridize with two other species in its genus, P. cryodroma and P. entrecasteauxii. The southern grass tussock skink is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened species. However, it is acknowledged that the current population is decreasing, especially in the Western Volcanic Plains of Melbourne. This is further confirmed by the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act listing the species as "Endangered" in the Volcanic Plains... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Kosciuszko National Park

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
2 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
3 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Tussock Skink in Kosciuszko National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Tussock Skink sighting in Kosciuszko National Park, based on 14 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Tussock Skink in Kosciuszko National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Tussock Skink in Kosciuszko National Park in our monthly data.

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