Chatham Islands skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chatham Islands skink |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligosoma
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| Species: |
nigriplantare
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The Chatham Islands skink (scientific name: Oligosoma nigriplantare) is a special kind of skink, which is a type of lizard. It belongs to the Scincidae family. This amazing reptile is found only on the Chatham Islands of New Zealand. It's the only reptile species living there!
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Meet the Chatham Islands Skink
The Chatham Islands skink is a unique lizard. It's known for being the only reptile that calls the Chatham Islands home. These skinks can grow quite large for a skink, up to about 9.1 centimeters (3.6 inches) long, not counting their tail. This makes them bigger than some of their close relatives.
Where Do They Live?
You can find the Chatham Islands skink on most of the larger Chatham Islands. However, they are not found on Chatham Island itself. They like to live in grassy areas and places with shrubs. You might also spot them on rocky islands in the ocean that have a bit of plant life.
How Did They Get Here?
Scientists believe these skinks arrived on the Chatham Islands a very long time ago. They think the skinks traveled across the ocean, perhaps on floating plants or logs. This happened between 5.86 and 7.29 million years ago. This was even before the Chatham Islands fully formed! This shows how tough and adaptable these little lizards are.
What Makes Them Special?
Chatham Islands skinks show a lot of variety in how they look. Their body size, colors, and patterns can be quite different from one skink to another. This might be because they have changed over time since they first arrived on the islands.
Scientists have also studied their genes. They found that the Chatham Islands skink is closely related to another skink called Oligosoma nigriplantare polychroma. Even though they are similar, there are enough differences that some scientists think they should be considered completely separate species.
Protecting the Skinks
Sadly, the Chatham Islands skink is facing some challenges. On Pitt Island, for example, there are very few skinks left. This is mainly because of animals that people brought to the islands, like cats and rats. These animals hunt the skinks. It's possible that this is why the skinks are no longer found on Chatham Island itself. Protecting these unique lizards from introduced animals is very important for their future.
