New Zealand Frogs & Reptiles

DSC_8379 Te Kakahu skink (Oligosoma tekakahu) view of Chalky Island from the sea. Home to a morphologically unusual 'Cryptic' skink, but more robust, and with unusual black flecks on the back. Thought to be a point endemic from Te Kakahu/Chalky Island until recently. In order to create another secure population ninety nine were translocated to Anchor Island, Fiordland National Park in February 2018. Since the translocation, a survey of Fiordland islands in December 2018 found 3 individuals on an islet 30km from Chalky Island, indicating another remnant population. Chalky Island, Fiordland National Park *

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DSC_8379 Te Kakahu skink (Oligosoma tekakahu) view of Chalky Island from the sea. Home to a morphologically unusual 'Cryptic' skink, but more robust, and with unusual black flecks on the back. Thought to be a point endemic from Te Kakahu/Chalky Island until recently. In order to create another secure population ninety nine were translocated to Anchor Island, Fiordland National Park in February 2018. Since the translocation, a survey of Fiordland islands in December 2018 found 3 individuals on an islet 30km from Chalky Island, indicating another remnant population. Chalky Island, Fiordland National Park *

Te Kakahu skink DSC 8379 Oligosoma Chalky Island inconspicuum