11003-86504 Three Kings ornate skink (Oligosoma ornatum longirostrum) one of three lizard species confined to the Three Kings. Snout long and pointed. Lives in forest litter or under rocks and logs, or in dense herbage in kanuka and puka forest and shrublands. Great Island, Three Kings Group
11003-90005 Whitaker's skink (Oligosoma whitakeri) photographed on Middle Mercury Island. This endangered nocturnal skink, requires an extremely moist humid environment. It has undergone a massive prehistoric range decline due largely to predation pressure from introduced rats. It is now known from just two small predator free islands, plus a mainland location 500km away. These island skinks prefer to spend much of their time underground. They are often most abundant in areas heavily burrowed by seabirds. Middle Island, Mercury Group *
11003-90003 Whitaker's skink (Oligosoma whitakeri) photographed on Middle Mercury Island. This endangered nocturnal skink, requires an extremely moist humid environment. It has undergone a massive prehistoric range decline due largely to predation pressure from introduced rats. It is now known from just two small predator free islands, plus a mainland location 500km away. These island skinks prefer to spend much of their time underground. They are often most abundant in areas heavily burrowed by seabirds. Middle Island, Mercury Group *
