Sinbad skink facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sinbad skink |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Oligosoma
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| Species: |
pikitanga
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The Sinbad skink (Oligosoma pikitanga) is a special kind of medium-sized skink. It is only found in New Zealand. This rare lizard lives high up in the mountains, in a place called Sinbad Gully, which is part of Fiordland National Park.
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Where the Sinbad Skink Lives
The Sinbad skink is one of only two types of New Zealand skinks that live only in very high, cold mountain areas. The other one is the Barrier skink, which looks quite similar. Both live in the Fiordland region of the South Island.
Scientists first officially recorded the Sinbad skink in 2004 and gave it its name in 2008. This skink is very rare. It is in danger of disappearing because of animals like rats and stoats. These animals were brought to New Zealand by people and hunt the skinks.
What its Name Means
The second part of its scientific name, pikitanga, comes from the Māori language. It means "mountain climber." This name fits perfectly because the skink lives on steep, high mountain cliffs.
When the Sinbad skink was first found in 2004 by a New Zealand scientist named Tony Jewell, his team also discovered other new animals. They found another type of skink and several new kinds of invertebrates (animals without backbones) in Sinbad Gully. All these creatures were new to science!
What the Sinbad Skink Looks Like
The Sinbad skink is a medium to large lizard. It can grow up to about 9.1 cm long from its nose to the start of its tail. Its whole body, including its long tail, can be up to 20 cm long.
Its toes and tail are very long. The top of its body is black with bright green spots. Some skinks are mostly green with black patches. Its sides are black with pink or grey spots. Its belly is a bright orange color. This orange belly helps tell it apart from other skinks in southern New Zealand.
How it Lives
Scientists believe the Sinbad skink gives birth to live young, just like most other Oligosoma skinks. They are quick and active lizards. They are thought to be active during the day and love to sunbathe. Even so, they can be hard to spot because they stay hidden in low plants and rarely come out into the open.
Its long body and many scales suggest it lives among rocks. This is similar to other skinks like the Grand skink and Scree skink. Its bright green color also suggests it spends a lot of time in the plants of its home.
Not much is known about the Sinbad skink's behavior. The weather in Sinbad Gully is very harsh, with up to 12 meters of rain each year and an average temperature of only 6.5 degrees Celsius. Also, its cliffside home is dangerous to study.
Protecting the Sinbad Skink
In 2007, the Department of Conservation (DOC) decided that the Sinbad skink was a "high regional priority." This means it needs urgent surveys, research, and help to protect it. By 2012, this skink was listed as Nationally Endangered under the New Zealand Threat Classification System. This means it is at high risk of becoming extinct.
