By ANNE BESTON
Forestry workers have discovered a clutch of the elusive striped skinks in the Kaimai Ranges, the first time the species has been found there.
The seven reptiles were found in a fallen miro by contractors, who alerted the Department of Conservation.
Striped skink recovery programme leader Nick Peet said the more records of the reptiles the department had, the easier it would be to confirm whether the animals were threatened.
"The thing about them is that they live in the tops of trees and are very rarely found, which means we don't know if they are declining or whether they are just very elusive."
The striped skink has the highest protection rating of any native species. Fewer than 120 have been found since they were identified in the 1870s.
Adult striped skinks (Oligosoma striatum) are about 8-12cm long, a similar size to the common darker-coloured gecko, but they are light brown with pale stripes and have smaller eyes.
Within the Oligosoma family there are 12 sub-species, one of which is the endangered Chevron skink found on Great Barrier Island.
The striped skink reproduces well in captivity and if DoC receives the go-ahead to wipe out the Polynesian rat, or kiore, from Little Barrier Island, many are likely to be transferred there.
They can be tenacious in the presence of predators and climb trees more readily than other lizards.
Although the striped skinks have lightning-quick reactions, they fall prey to cats, stoats and rats.
Department of Conservation
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Forestry workers discover elusive skink
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