Long-toed skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long-toed skink |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligosoma
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| Species: |
longipes
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The long-toed skink (Oligosoma longipes) is a special type of skink. It belongs to the family called Scincidae. This skink is endemic to New Zealand, which means it is found naturally only in New Zealand.
A scientist named Geoff Patterson first described this skink in 1997. We don't know a lot about its daily life. It has only been found in a few places on the South Island of New Zealand.
Contents
About the Long-toed Skink
Where it Lives
The long-toed skink likes dry, rocky places. It often lives on stream terraces that are eroding, or on scree slopes. Scree slopes are hillsides covered in loose, broken rocks.
Daily Life and Size
This skink is diurnal, meaning it is active during the day. It is also heliothermic, which means it likes to warm itself by basking in the sun. The longest measurement from its snout (nose) to its vent (a small opening near the tail) is about 70 mm. That's about the length of a small pencil!
Why it Needs Our Help
Conservation Status
The long-toed skink is a species that needs protection. In 2012, the Department of Conservation (DOC) in New Zealand looked at its numbers. They classified the long-toed skink as "Nationally Vulnerable."
What "Nationally Vulnerable" Means
Being "Nationally Vulnerable" means that this skink is at risk of becoming endangered. This classification is part of the New Zealand Threat Classification System. This system helps scientists understand which animals and plants need the most help to survive. It means there are not many long-toed skinks left, and they need our care to protect their homes.
