Barrier skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barrier skink |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligosoma
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| Species: |
judgei
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The Barrier skink (Oligosoma judgei) is a cool type of lizard. It's a medium-sized skink, which is a kind of lizard in the family called Scincidae.
This special skink lives only in New Zealand. You can find it high up in the alpine zone of the Darran and Takitimu Mountains in Fiordland. It's one of only two New Zealand skinks that live only in these high, cold places. The other one is the "Sinbad skink", which looks similar and lives nearby.
The Barrier skink was first found in the 1960s. But it was forgotten about until 2005. That's when two mountain climbers rediscovered it! Scientists then officially described it in 2009.
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Meet the Barrier Skink
Barrier skinks are unique lizards. They are perfectly adapted to live in very cold, high-altitude environments. These areas are often rocky and windy.
They are part of a group of lizards called Oligosoma. Many skinks in New Zealand belong to this group. Barrier skinks are known for being quite hardy.
Where Does the Barrier Skink Live?
This skink makes its home in the alpine zone. This means very high up in the mountains. The Darran and Takitimu Mountains in Fiordland are its special habitat.
The alpine zone is a tough place to live. It has cold temperatures and strong winds. There are not many trees, mostly rocks and low-growing plants.
How Was the Barrier Skink Discovered?
The first time a Barrier skink was collected was in the 1960s. But for a long time, no one paid much attention to it. It was almost forgotten!
Then, in 2005, something exciting happened. Two mountain climbers found the skink again. This rediscovery helped scientists learn more about it. In 2009, it was officially named and described.
Why Is Its Name Special?
The scientific name for the Barrier skink is Oligosoma judgei. The "judgei" part is a special honor. It's named after Bronwyn Judge and Murray Judge.
Bronwyn and Murray are two New Zealand rock climbers. They were the ones who rediscovered this skink on a place called Barrier Knob. So, the name is a way to remember their important discovery!
Is the Barrier Skink Safe? Conservation Efforts
For a while, people thought the Barrier skink was quite safe. This was because of where it lived. The high alpine zone is a very harsh place. It's hard for invasive mammalian predators to live there.
Invasive predators are animals like stoats or rats. They were brought to New Zealand by people. They can be very dangerous to native wildlife. But the cold mountains helped protect the skinks. Also, there were huge areas of untouched habitat.
However, things changed in 2012. The Department of Conservation looked at the Barrier skink again. They decided it was "Nationally Endangered". This means it needs special protection. It's important to keep an eye on these unique lizards. We need to make sure they stay safe in their mountain homes.
