Moko skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moko skink |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligosoma
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| Species: |
moco
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The Moko skink (Oligosoma moco) is a type of skink, which is a kind of lizard. It belongs to the family called Scincidae. These interesting lizards are special because they are only found in New Zealand.
Contents
Where Moko Skinks Live (Distribution)
The Moko skink is found only in New Zealand. It lives mostly in the northeastern part of the North Island. You can often find them on the small islands off the east coast of the North Island.
To help protect these skinks, 50 of them were moved to the Rotoroa sanctuary in January 2014. This helps make sure they have a safe place to live and grow.
What Moko Skinks Look Like (Description)
Moko skinks can have different colors and patterns. Most of them are a coppery or olive-brown color. They usually have a dark brown stripe along their sides. This stripe has a cream or white border on both its top and bottom edges. Some Moko skinks can even be very dark.
These skinks have long toes and a very long tail. Their tail can be more than half of their total body length! A Moko skink can grow up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches) long.
How Moko Skinks Live (Ecology)
Moko skinks usually live near the coast, which means close to the sea. They are active during the day. You can often see them "basking," which means lying in the sun on warm rocks to get warm. They also like to hide under logs, stones, and in clay banks.
Moko skinks are carnivores, meaning they eat other small creatures. Their diet includes small insects, spiders, and other tiny animals without backbones, called invertebrates. They often come out from plants to hunt for food on beaches and open, rocky areas.
Moko Skink Life Cycle (Reproduction)
Unlike many other lizards, the Moko skink does not lay eggs. Instead, it gives birth to live young. This is a special way of reproducing that helps them survive in cooler places. Giving birth to live young is common for many New Zealand native skinks.
Moko skinks usually have their babies around February. A mother skink can give birth to up to eight young at one time.
Images for kids
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A Moko skink basking on a rock.
