Mac Gregor's New Zealand Skink

Little is known about the biology of McGregor's skink, though it is likely that, like other skinks, it feeds mainly on insects (5) (9). Individuals are usually active in the early morning and late evening (7), and may be quite aggressive in defence of preferred sites (4). McGregor's skink is ovoviviparous, meaning the developing eggs hatch inside the female, the female then giving birth to live young. Usually only two young are born at a time, in late summer or early autumn (February to March). McGregor's skink takes up to four or five years to reach adult size, and may live for over ten years (4).

McGregor's skink has been included in a recovery plan, published in 1999, which sets out objectives for the conservation of this and other related skinks (7). Conservation measures already in place include the translocation of groups of McGregor's skinks as part of the planned restoration of two islands from which introduced rodents have been removed. Other translocations have also been proposed, with the short-term aim of increasing the number of populations and expanding the area the species occupies. Eradication of rodents and other introduced predators from other islands is ongoing, and the future of the remaining populations of McGregor's skink will also rely on preventing these predators from reaching the skink's last few island strongholds (4) (7). An incursion of ship rats was discovered on Lady Alice and Whatupuke Islands in early 2009, but the rats have since been eradicated (8). There also needs to be careful consideration of any proposed introductions of native species, such as the weka, Gallirallus australis, which may prey on the vulnerable McGregor's skink population (4).

One of New Zealand's rarest lizards, McGregor's skink is a medium-sized and secretive reptile (4), with a long body, short but well-developed limbs, and smooth, shiny scales (2) (5). The back is light yellowish-brown, with irregularly broken, darker stripes running from the neck to the base of the tail, and in some individuals onto the tail itself (2) (6). The underside of the body and the inner surface of the limbs are grey, cream or light pink, often with darker flecks, and a dark patch containing yellowish areas extends from behind the ear to just level with the forelimbs. The eyes are relatively small compared to other related species, and may be marked underneath with a pale, black-edged 'tear drop' (2) (6). Previously classified within the genus Cyclodina, recent molecular evidence suggests that McGregor's skink, together with all native New Zealand skinks, should be placed within a single genus, Oligosoma (1).

Inhabits mainly coastal scrub or forest, often in areas that have been heavily burrowed by sea birds (7). McGregor's skink usually shelters by day under rocks and logs, or amongst leaf litter, and is often found in bouldery areas, where it is protected from extremes of temperature and where moisture levels are high (4) (7).

McGregor's skink is endemic to New Zealand, where it has an extremely fragmented distribution, being found only on Motuharakeke Island in the Cavalli Islands, Mauitaha Island in the Outer Bream Islands, Sail Rock in the Hen and Chickens Islands, and Mana Island, near Wellington (2) (4) (7). Populations have also been translocated to Lady Alice and Whatupuke Islands (7) (8).

Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (3).

Once far more widespread, including on mainland New Zealand, McGregor's skink is now restricted to a few islands that are free of mammalian predators such as mice, to which the whole of the genus are believed to be vulnerable (4) (7). The possibility of such predators reaching these islands is probably the greatest threat to the remaining populations of McGregor's skink. Habitat disturbance is now unlikely to be affecting McGregor's skink (8), although past road construction may have reduced available shelter (4). The species' vulnerability to heat stress and to water loss through the skin may also restrict it to habitats with high humidity and protection from temperature extremes (7). The relatively low reproductive rate typical of New Zealand skinks (10) may mean that populations take a long time to recover from any losses.

Continent: Oceania
Distribution: New Zealand (North Island, Hauraki Gulf, Cavalli Island, Mana Island)

McGregor's skink (Oligosoma macgregori) is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand.