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Oligosoma Tekakahu
The Te Kakahu skink (''Oligosoma tekakahu'') is a critically endangered species of skink native to New Zealand. When discovered, the entire species was inhabiting a single patch of clifftop vegetation on Chalky Island (New Zealand), Chalky Island in Fiordland National Park. Discovery The Te Kakahu skink was discovered in 2002 by members of the Department of Conservation (New Zealand), Department of Conservation (DOC) kākāpō recovery team. Sixteen skinks were collected in 2008, and the species was formally described in 2011 and named ''Oligosoma tekakahu''. Its species name, ''tekakahu'', comes from the Māori language, Māori name of Chalky Island, ''Te Kākahu-o-Tamatea'', or "Tamatea's cloak", referring to the oral tradition that this island was where the explorer Tamatea dried his cloak after being drenched by the sea. Although the Māori word ''kākahu'' or cloak is spelled with a macron, the skink's name is usually spelled without. Appearance Although very similar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. Skinks are characterized by their smaller legs in comparison to typical lizards and are found in different habitats except arctic and subarctic regions. Description Skinks look like lizards of the family Lacertidae (sometimes called ''true lizards''), but most species of skinks have no pronounced neck and relatively small legs. Several genera (e.g., ''Typhlosaurus'') have no limbs at all. This is not true for all skinks, however, as some species such as the red-eyed crocodile skink have a head that is very distinguished from the body. These lizards also have legs that are relatively small proportional to their body size. Skinks' skulls are covered by substantial bony scales, usually matching up in shape and size, while overlapping. Other gen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
