Oligosoma

Oligosoma is a genus of small to medium-sized skinks (family Scincidae). It is found only in New Zealand and in the Norfolk and Lord Howe groups. It belongs to the Eugongylus group; the genus Bassiana appears to be a fairly close relative (Austin & Arnold 2006).

Species

These are the currently formally described species.

• Fiordland skink, Oligosoma acrinasum
• Burgan skink, Oligosoma burganae
• Green skink, Oligosoma chloronoton
• Falla's skink, Oligosoma fallai
• Grand skink, Oligosoma grande
• Chevron skink, Oligosoma homalonotum
• Cryptic skink, Oligosoma inconspicuum^[1]
• Speckled skink, Oligosoma infrapunctatum
• Barrier skink, Oligosoma judgei
• Spotted skink, Oligosoma lineoocellatum^[2]
• Long-toed skink, Oligosoma longipes
• Maccanns skink, Oligosoma maccanni
• Small-scaled skink, Oligosoma microlepis^[3]
• Moko skink, Oligosoma moco
• Chatham Islands skink, Oligosoma nigriplantare
• Common Skink, Oligosoma polychroma^[4]
• Nevis skink, Oligosoma toka
• Southern skink, Oligosoma notosaurus
• Otago skink, Oligosoma otagense
• Sinbad skink, Oligosoma pikitanga
• Eyres skink, Oligosoma repens
• Shore skink, Oligosoma smithi
• Small-eared skink, Oligosoma stenotis
• New Zealand striped skink, Oligosoma striatum
• Suter's skink, Oligosoma suteri
• Open Bay Islands skink, Oligosoma taumakae
• Te Kakahu skink, Oligosoma tekakahu
• Nevis skink, Oligosoma toka
• Scree skink, Oligosoma waimatense
• Brown skink, Oligosoma zelandicum

Merging Oligosoma and Cyclodina

Following a recent taxonomical study^[5] it has been suggested that the old Cyclodina genus be merged with Oligosoma. This renders Cyclodina an obsolete taxon. The species previously included in the Cyclodina genus are:

• Copper skink, Oligosoma aeneum
• Robust skink, Oligosoma alani
• Lord Howe Island skink, Oligosoma lichenigera
• Macgregor's skink, Oligosoma macgregori
• Northland skink, Oligosoma northlandi (presumed extinct)
• Marbled skink, Oligosoma oliveri
• Ornate skink, Oligosoma ornatum
• Whitaker's skink, Oligosoma whitakeri
• Mokohinau skink, Oligosoma townsi
• Slight skink, Oligosoma levidensum
• Hardy's skink, Oligosoma hardyi

References

• Austin, J.J. & Arnold, E.N. (2006): Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39(2): 503–511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)

• Chapple, D.G; Ritchie, P. & Daugherty, C.H. (2009): Origin, diversification, and systematics of the New Zealand skink fauna (Reptilia: Scincidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52(2): 470-487.

External links

• D.R. Towns; K. Neilson; A.H. Whitaker (2002). "North Island Oligosoma spp. skink recovery plan 2002–2012 (Threatened Species Recovery Plan 48)". Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand. http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/TSRP48.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-05.