Ornate skink
Encyclopedia
The ornate skink, Cyclodina ornata, is a rare species of skink
endemic to New Zealand
. This species was once widespread through much of the North Island
and on many offshore islands in the Hauraki Gulf
and north of the Coromandel Peninsula
. Habitat destruction and predation by introduced species has now reduced their range to scattered localities throughout the North Island as far south as Wellington
, as well as on the Three Kings Islands
, Great Barrier Island
, and a few other offshore islands.
Ornate skinks co-exist widely with copper skink
s, and at selected localities with robust skink
s, Mokohinau skink
s, McGregor's skinks, Poor Knights skinks and on Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands, marbled skink
s. Ornate skinks are not currently known to co-exist with Whitaker's skink
s.
Ornate skinks can be identified by the white or yellowish "teardrop" edged with black, below each eye.
Skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...
endemic to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. This species was once widespread through much of the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
and on many offshore islands in the Hauraki Gulf
Hauraki Gulf
The Hauraki Gulf is a coastal feature of the North Island of New Zealand. It has a total area of 4000 km², and lies between the Auckland Region, the Hauraki Plains, the Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island...
and north of the Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel Peninsula lies in the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Waikato Region and Thames-Coromandel District and extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty, forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames in the west...
. Habitat destruction and predation by introduced species has now reduced their range to scattered localities throughout the North Island as far south as Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, as well as on the Three Kings Islands
Three Kings Islands
The Three Kings Islands or Manawa Islands are a group of 13 islands about northwest of Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of the North Island of New Zealand, where the South Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea converge. They measure about 4.86 km² in area...
, Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island
Great Barrier Island is a large island of New Zealand, situated to the north-east of central Auckland in the outer Hauraki Gulf. With an area of it is the fourth-largest island of New Zealand's main chain of islands, with its highest point, Mount Hobson, rising...
, and a few other offshore islands.
Ornate skinks co-exist widely with copper skink
Copper skink
The copper skink, Cyclodina aenea, is a skink of the family Scincidae, endemic to the North Island of New Zealand....
s, and at selected localities with robust skink
Robust skink
The robust skink, Cyclodina alani, is a large, rare species of skink endemic to New Zealand. This species was once widespread throughout the North Island but has been wiped out in most parts of its former range by predation from several species of introduced rats - it now occurs naturally only on 6...
s, Mokohinau skink
Mokohinau skink
The Mokohinau skink, , is a species of skink in the family Scincidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and is now found in the Northland area including Three Kings Islands, the Poor Knights Islands and other offshore islands.The skink occupies broadleaf forest and low scrub, usually amongst boulders...
s, McGregor's skinks, Poor Knights skinks and on Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands, marbled skink
Marbled skink
The marbled skink, Cyclodina oliveri, is a species of skink in the Scincidae family.It is endemic to New Zealand.-References:* Australasian Reptile & Amphibian Specialist Group 1996* * Downloaded on 20 July 2007...
s. Ornate skinks are not currently known to co-exist with Whitaker's skink
Whitaker's skink
The Whitaker's skink, Cyclodina whitakeri, is a species of skink in the Scincidae family. It is found only in New Zealand. The specific epithet is in honour of Tony Whitaker , a New Zealand herpetologist who has studied NZ lizards for more than 30 years.Whitaker's skink lives in coastal forest and...
s.
Ornate skinks can be identified by the white or yellowish "teardrop" edged with black, below each eye.