Oligosoma oliveri (MCCANN, 1955)
Can you confirm these amateur observations of Oligosoma oliveri?
Oligosoma oliveri
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| Higher Taxa | Scincidae, Eugongylinae (Eugongylini), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | |
| Common Names | E: Marbled Skink, Oliver's New Zealand Skink |
| Synonym | Leiolopisma oliveri MCCANN 1955 Leiolopisma oliveri — GREER 1974: 16 Leiolopisma oliveri — ROBB 1975 Cyclodina oliveri — HARDY 1977 Cyclodina oliveri — WELLS & WELLINGTON 1985 Cyclodina oliveri — HICKSON et al. 2000 Oligosoma oliveri — PATTERSON & BELL 2009 Oligosoma oliveri — CHAPPLE et al. 2009 |
| Distribution | New Zealand (Poor Knights Islands off the east coast of Northland) Type locality: Poor Knights Island, Northern Islet (= Tawhiti Rahi) (35° 28’ S, 174° 44’ E). |
| Reproduction | ovovivparous |
| Types | Holotype: NMNZ R153, adult female |
| Diagnosis | DIAGNOSIS: Cyclodina oliveri can be distinguished from all other Cyclodina species through a combination of characters. Cyclodina oliveri has a prominent teardrop marking under the eye and >= 4 midbody scale rows, distinguishing it from C. aenea, C. aenea "Te Paki", and C. aenea "Poor Knights Islands". Cyclodina oliveri has an unbroken subocular scale row, distinguishing it from C. aenea "Poor Knights Islands". The genetic results indicate that C. oliveri is closely related to C. whitakeri; however, it can be distinguished through several morphological characters, predominantly coloration and scale counts. Cyclodina oliveri lacks the yellow and orange coloration of many C. whitakeri specimens (Hardy 1977). Cyclodina oliveri (TL/SVL: 1./1) has a shorter tail than C. whitakeri (TL/SVL: 1.2; Hardy 1977). Although there is overlap in midbody scale counts between C. oliveri (4-42) and C. ornata (28-7; Hardy 1977), the coloration differs between these two species. Colour pattern distinguishes C. oliveri from C. macgregori and C. alani, with C. alani having a more robust body form and greater maximum SVL . Cyclodina oliveri and C. townsi are very difficult to distinguish morphologically. This is chiefly because the scale counts for C. oliveri on the Poor Knights overlap greatly with those for C. townsi, as noted by Hardy (1977). However, the Poor Knights skinks are so distinctive, in terms of coloration, body size and scalation, that it is not surprising that Hardy (1977) thought that there might be two subspecies within what is now classified as C. oliveri. The Poor Knights skinks are larger and more strikingly coloured than the C. oliveri from other islands, and their scale counts are significantly higher. Cyclodina townsi and C. oliveri can be distinguished only by a combination of colour pattern and temporal scale counts (see taxonomic key).(Chapple et al. 2008). |
| Comment | Abundance: Rare, threatened, or endangered species. Synonymy: Leiolopisma pachysomaticum ROBB 1975, previously a synonym of O. oliveri, was revalidated by Jewell 2019. Habitat: Lives primarily among leaf litter on the floor of coastal forest and scrub, utilizing a range of cover objects and sea bird burrows as retreat sites, and is crepuscular with peaks of activity after dusk and before dawn. Gravid females occasionally bask but the species is normally otherwise inactive by day (Jewell 2019). Illustration: in BioGecko 3: 72 (by Trent Bell). Cyclodina oliveri and C. townsi are very difficult to distinguish morphologically. This is chiefly because the scale counts for C. oliveri on the Poor Knights overlap greatly with those for C. townsi, as noted by Hardy (1977). However, the Poor Knights skinks are so distinctive, in terms of coloration, body size and scalation, that it is not surprising that Hardy (1977) thought that there might be two subspecies within what is now classified as C. oliveri. The Poor Knights skinks are larger and more strikingly coloured than the C. oliveri from other islands, and their scale counts are significantly higher. Cyclodina townsi and C. oliveri can be distinguished only by a combination of colour pattern and temporal scale counts. |
| Etymology | named after the collector of the type, W.R.B. Oliver (1883–1957), former director of the Dominion Museum (now Museum of New Zealand/Te Papa Tongarewa) in Wellington, New Zealand. |
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