DSC_6571 McGregor's skink (Oligosoma macgregori) once widespread on the North Island mainland, occurs today on a few rat-free offshore islands. Mana Island *
DSC_6588 McGregor's skink (Oligosoma macgregori) once widespread on the North Island mainland, occurs today on a few rat-free offshore islands. Mana Island *
11003-95001 Plague skink (Lampropholis delicata) accidentally introduced in cargo from Australia in the mid-1960's, this exotic skink has rapidly colonised the North Island and has even spread to conservation-sensitive, northern offshore islands. This small fast moving, egg-laying skink copes well with introduced mammalian predators, and with habitat modification, while our native skinks suffer. While it is the only invasive lizard to have established in New Zealand so far, ninety-nine other lizard species have been intercepted at our borders. Warkworth *
