Hardy's skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hardy's skink |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligosoma
|
| Species: |
hardyi
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Hardy's skink (Oligosoma hardyi) is a special type of skink. Skinks are small lizards that belong to the family called Scincidae. This skink is found only in one place in the world. It lives on the Poor Knights Islands of New Zealand. This means it is endemic to those islands.
Contents
About the Name: Hardy's Skink
The scientific name for this skink is hardyi. It was named to honor a New Zealand expert on reptiles and amphibians. His name was Graham S. Hardy. He was a herpetologist, which is a scientist who studies these amazing creatures.
Where Hardy's Skink Lives
Hardy's skink can only be found on the Poor Knights Islands. These islands are off the coast of New Zealand. Specifically, you can find them on a few different islands there. These include Tawhiti Rahi Island, Aorangi Island, and Aorangaia Island. They also live on Archway Island and two smaller rock stacks.
How Scientists Classify Hardy's Skink
Scientists use a system called taxonomy to group living things. This helps us understand how different species are related. For a long time, Hardy's skink was thought to be the same as another skink. It looked very similar to the copper skink (Cyclodina aenea).
However, in 2008, scientists looked closer at Hardy's skink. They studied its body features, its DNA, and other things. They found enough differences to say it was a completely new species. So, they gave it its own name, Cyclodina hardyi.
Later, in 2009, scientists made another change. They decided that the group of skinks called Cyclodina should be part of the Oligosoma group. This meant Hardy's skink got a new scientific name. It became Oligosoma hardyi, which is what we call it today.
Habitat and Behavior
Hardy's skink likes to live in places with lots of ground cover. This means areas where the ground is hidden by plants. You can often find them near flax plants and scrubby bushes. These plants provide good hiding spots.
This skink is also crepuscular. This is a fancy word meaning it is most active during twilight hours. So, you might see it moving around at dawn or dusk. During the middle of the day, when the sun is brightest, it stays hidden. It finds safe places under stones or in thick plants to rest.
What Hardy's Skink Looks Like
Hardy's skink has some unique features that help scientists tell it apart. These features are very small and specific. For example, it has a special arrangement of scales under its eyes. Two of its subocular scales (scales below the eye) are separated by another scale called the fifth supralabial.
Also, if you count the scales around the middle of its body, Hardy's skink has more than some other similar skinks. For instance, it has more scales than the slight skink (Oligosoma levidensum). These small details are important for scientists to identify different skink species.
