Brown skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brown skink |
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| Genus: |
Oligosoma
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| Species: |
zelandicum
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| Distribution | |
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The brown skink (Oligosoma zelandicum) is a small lizard that lives only in New Zealand. These interesting creatures are a type of skink, which are known for their smooth, shiny scales. They are quite common in many parts of New Zealand.
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Where Brown Skinks Live
Brown skinks are found in many places across New Zealand. They are quite numerous, meaning there are a lot of them.
North Island Homes
In the North Island, you can find brown skinks from the Taranaki region all the way down to Wellington. They like to live in different habitats there.
South Island Homes
On the South Island, these skinks are also present. They live in areas like the Marlborough Sounds, near Nelson, and in the Westland area. They adapt well to various environments.
Protecting Brown Skinks
It's important to know how well animals are doing in the wild. This helps us protect them.
Global Status
Globally, the brown skink is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List. This means that as of 2010, there were enough brown skinks around the world that they weren't considered to be in immediate danger of disappearing.
New Zealand Status
However, in New Zealand, their status is a bit different. In 2012, the Department of Conservation in New Zealand looked closely at the brown skink population. They classified the brown skink as "At Risk Declining". This means that even though they are still common, their numbers are slowly going down in New Zealand. This shows that we need to keep an eye on them and protect their homes.
