The Mokohinau skink (''Oligosoma townsi''), also known
commonly as Towns' skink, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Scincidae. The species is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
.
Etymology
The
specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''townsi'', is in honor of Kiwi herpetologist
David Towns.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Cyclodina townsi'', p. 267).]
Geographic range
In New Zealand ''O. townsi'' is found in the Northland area including
Three Kings Islands
3 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
3, three, or III may also refer to:
* AD 3, the third year of the AD era
* 3 BC, the third year before the AD era
* March, the third month
Books
* ''Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 n ...
, the
Poor Knights Islands
The Poor Knights Islands (Māori: ''Tawhiti Rahi)'' are a group of islands off the east coast of the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. They lie to the northeast of Whangarei, and offshore halfway between Bream Head an ...
, and other offshore islands.
[ (''Oligosoma townsi'', new combination).]
Habitat
''O. townsi'' occupies
broadleaf forest and low scrub, usually amongst boulders and rock screes.
Reproduction and behaviour
''O. townsi'' is
viviparous
Among animals, viviparity is development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. This is opposed to oviparity which is a reproductive mode in which females lay developing eggs that complete their development and hatch externally from the m ...
[ and is believed to be ]nocturnal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite.
Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...
.
Description
''O. townsi'' reaches a maximum body size of about snout-vent length (SVL).[ (''Cyclodina townsi'', new species).]
References
Further reading
* van Winkel D, Baling M, Hitchmough R (2019). ''Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand: A Field Guide''. Auckland: Auckland University Press. 376 pp. .
Oligosoma
Reptiles described in 2008
Endemic reptiles of New Zealand
Taxa named by David G. Chapple
Taxa named by Geoff B. Patterson
Taxa named by Charles H. Daugherty
{{Lygosominae-stub