Small-eared skink

Small-eared skink
Nationally Vulnerable
Nationally Vulnerable (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. stenotis
Binomial name
Oligosoma stenotis
Distribution of the small-eared skink on a map of Stewart Island
  Known native range

The small-eared skink (Oligosoma stenotis) is a species of skink endemic to New Zealand. It was originally described in 1994. As at 2021 this species was classified as being Nationally Vulnerable under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

Taxonomy

It was first described in 1994 by Geoff Patterson and Charles Daugherty.

Description

The small-eared skink is a moderately small (80 mm snout to vent) skink, that lives in one of the most inhospitable (to lizards) environments on earth. O. stenotis can be distinguished from the other four or five species of skink on Stewart Island by its very small ear (hence the name stenotis), and also occasionally by the number of scales on mid-row in the back, and by the coloration. It is occasionally a very bright green, which can sometimes be confused for the aptly named O. chloronoton, which means 'green backed' in Greek.

Distribution

This species is found only in New Zealand.

Conservation status

In 2021, the Department of Conservation (Te Papa Atawhai) changed the threat classification of the small-eared skink from At Risk - Nationally Uncommon to Threatened - Nationally Vulnerable under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

References

  1. 1 2 Hitchmough, Rod; Barr, Benjamin Philip; Knox, Carey; et al. (2021). Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2021 (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. Vol. 35. pp. 1–23. ISBN 978-1-9911529-2-3. Wikidata Q108747299. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Patterson, G.b.; Daugherty, C.h. (1994). "Leiolopisma stenotis, n. sp., (Reptilia: Lacertilia: Scincidae) from Stewart Island, New Zealand". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 24 (1): 125–132. doi:10.1080/03014223.1994.9517459. ISSN 1175-8899.
  3. ↑ "Oligosoma stenotis | NZHS". reptiles.org.nz. Retrieved 7 March 2026.