Niveoscincus microlepidotus on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
''Carinascincus microlepidotus'', commonly known as the boulder cool-skink or southern snow skink,
is a member of the family Scincidae. Endemic to
''Carinascincus microlepidotus'' is an alpine species, found in the Highlands of central and Southern Tasmania at an elevation of 800-1270 metres. The species is numerous upon kunanyi/Mount Wellington but is found as far north as 
Where they co-occur with ''Carinascincus greeni, C. microlepidotus'' instead occupies heathland and basks on top of
''Carinascincus microlepidotus'' is predominately an insectivorous species, however they feed on '' Richea scoparia'' (Honey Bush) plants during the flowering season of December to March. This interaction is mutually beneficial to both species. The skinks tear off and chew on the fused petals (calyptrum) of the flower (inflorescence) to feed on the nectar. Tearing the calyptrum exposes the reproductive organs of the inflorescence which assists with successful cross pollination. As high skink activity coincides with mild weather, removal of the calyptra typically occurs during favourable conditions for pollination. Further, seed release is increased by 87%.
Other species which feed on ''R. scoparia'' are not similarly beneficial. For example, the introduced bumblebee ''
IUCN Red List
The major threat is climate change, resulting in an increase in severe weather events such as drought, as well as a reduction in the overall amount and quality of suitable habitat. Under current climate change projections, up to 60% of the species’ current habitat may be lost by 2050.Cabrelli, A.L. & Hughes, L. (2015). Assessing the vulnerability of Australian skinks to climate change. ''Climatic Change, 130'', 223-233. As the climate becomes warmer, lowland species including ''Carinascincus metallicus'' and ''Carinascincus ocellatus'' encroach upon ''C. microlepidotus'' habitat. Slow reproduction and low fecundity make ''C. microlepidotus'' sensitive to increased competition, as they may quickly become outnumbered by the lowland species and therefore unable to compete for increasingly limited resources. Further, ''C. microlepidotus'' has a high rate of evaporative water loss, meaning they rapidly lose water from their bodies. This makes the species drought sensitive. Rainfall and snowfall in alpine Tasmania are expected to continue declining, as they have over the past several decades.
Tasmania
Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...
, Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
,Olsson, M., Shine, R., & Ba'k-Olsson, E. (2000). Lizards as a plant's 'hired help': letting pollinators in and seeds out. ''Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 71,'' 191-202. this diurnal species basks on the exposed rock faces of the alpine boulder fields they inhabit.Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. (2023). ''Conservation advice for Carinascincus microlepidotus (southern snow skink).'' Australian Government.
Classification
The species was previously known as ''Niveoscincus microlepidotus'' but was since reclassified as ''Carinascincus
''Carinascincus'' is a genus of skinks (family Scincidae), commonly called snow skinks or cool-skinks and residing mainly in Tasmania or Victoria, Australia. Then recognised as the genus ''Niveoscincus'', it was found to belong to a clade with ...
'' along with other members of the genus.
Other species within the genus ''Carinascincus'' include:Cogger, H.G. (2014''). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia''. (7th ed., pp.426-428). CSIRO Publishing.
* '' Carinascincus coventryi''
* '' Carinascincus greeni''
* '' Carinascincus metallicus''
* '' Carinascincus ocellatus''
* '' Carinascincus orocrypus''
* '' Carinascincus palfreymani''
* '' Carinascincus pretiosus''
Description
''Carinascincus microlepidotus'' is grey or olive-brown in colour, with dark, narrow stripes running along either side of the body. Their backs are flecked dark brown or black. They have small scales, hence the name ''microlepidotus'', with ‘micro’ meaning ‘small’ and ‘lepidotus’ meaning ‘scaled’ in Greek. ''C. microlepidotus'' can be distinguished from other species of ''Carinascincus'' by the absence of both a black vertebral stripe and pale stripes along the sides of the body. The maximum length and weight of ''C. microlepidotus'' is 6.9 centimetres, and 5 grams. The species lives up to 13 years.Olsson, M., & Shine, R. (1999). Ownership influences the outcome of male-male contests in the scincid lizard, ''Niveoscincus microlepidotus. Behavioural Ecology, 11,'' 587-590.Habitat and Distribution
''Carinascincus microlepidotus'' is an alpine species, found in the Highlands of central and Southern Tasmania at an elevation of 800-1270 metres. The species is numerous upon kunanyi/Mount Wellington but is found as far north as Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain is a locality and mountain in the Central Highlands region of the Australian state of Tasmania. The mountain is situated in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park.
At above sea level, it is the sixth-highest mount ...
.
Within these regions, their preferred microhabitat is dolerite boulder fields, where they bask on exposed rocks. During winter, individuals seek shelter under rock crevices and within vegetation to avoid extreme cold.
Where they co-occur with ''Carinascincus greeni, C. microlepidotus'' instead occupies heathland and basks on top of cushion plants
A cushion plant is a compact, low-growing, mat-forming plant that is found in alpine, subalpine, arctic, or subarctic environments around the world. The term "cushion" is usually applied to woody plants that grow as spreading mats, are limited i ...
. This is because ''C. greeni'' competitively excludes ''C. microlepidotus'' from the optimal boulder field habitat. Heathland is a sub-optimal microhabitat as it provides fewer ideal basking areas, therefore skinks occupying these areas have a smaller than average body size.
Territory competition also occurs within-species. ''C. microlepidotus'' males have overlapping territories, as they move through one another’s home ranges in search of prey and mates. Encounters between males result in conflict over territory.
Diet
''Carinascincus microlepidotus'' is predominately an insectivorous species, however they feed on '' Richea scoparia'' (Honey Bush) plants during the flowering season of December to March. This interaction is mutually beneficial to both species. The skinks tear off and chew on the fused petals (calyptrum) of the flower (inflorescence) to feed on the nectar. Tearing the calyptrum exposes the reproductive organs of the inflorescence which assists with successful cross pollination. As high skink activity coincides with mild weather, removal of the calyptra typically occurs during favourable conditions for pollination. Further, seed release is increased by 87%.
Other species which feed on ''R. scoparia'' are not similarly beneficial. For example, the introduced bumblebee ''Bombus terrestris
''Bombus terrestris'', the buff-tailed bumblebee or large earth bumblebee, is one of the most numerous bumblebee species in Europe. It is one of the main species used in greenhouse pollination, and so can be found in many countries and areas wher ...
'' feeds on the calyptrum without fully removing it, hence providing no benefit to the reproductive cycle of the plant. Therefore, the relationship with ''C. microlepidotus'' is key to the reproduction of ''R. scoparia'' in the unpredictable environmental conditions of alpine Tasmania.
Reproduction
''Carinascincus microlepidotus'' is viviparous, meaning females give birth to live young. Litters are produced biennially (every two years), with litters of 1-5 individuals. During the mating season of summer to early autumn, males and females form month-long mate pairings. Females carry sperm within their oviducts until they ovulate in spring, and embryos are fully developed by early autumn. Females continue to carry fully developed young over winter, and do not give birth until the following spring. Pregnant females under cold spring conditions can delay birth by a further four weeks, whereas warm conditions result in birth just four months post fertilisation.Atkins, N., Swain, R., & Jones, S.M. (2007). Are babies better in Autumn or Spring? The consequences of extending gestation in a biennially reproducing viviparous lizard. ''Journal of Experimental Zoology, 307,'' 397-405. This suggests prolonged gestation and flexibility in birth time is an adaptation to climate. Delaying birth until spring ensures young have the greatest chance of survival due to the mild weather and abundance of food. Young born in autumn cannot survive the harsh conditions of winter in alpine Tasmania.Threats
''Carinascincus microlepidotus'' is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ under thIUCN Red List
The major threat is climate change, resulting in an increase in severe weather events such as drought, as well as a reduction in the overall amount and quality of suitable habitat. Under current climate change projections, up to 60% of the species’ current habitat may be lost by 2050.Cabrelli, A.L. & Hughes, L. (2015). Assessing the vulnerability of Australian skinks to climate change. ''Climatic Change, 130'', 223-233. As the climate becomes warmer, lowland species including ''Carinascincus metallicus'' and ''Carinascincus ocellatus'' encroach upon ''C. microlepidotus'' habitat. Slow reproduction and low fecundity make ''C. microlepidotus'' sensitive to increased competition, as they may quickly become outnumbered by the lowland species and therefore unable to compete for increasingly limited resources. Further, ''C. microlepidotus'' has a high rate of evaporative water loss, meaning they rapidly lose water from their bodies. This makes the species drought sensitive. Rainfall and snowfall in alpine Tasmania are expected to continue declining, as they have over the past several decades.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q55419085 Carinascincus Skinks of Australia Reptiles of Tasmania Endemic fauna of Tasmania Reptiles described in 1874 Taxa named by Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy