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Issue: Vol. 5437 No. 4: 16 Apr. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-04-16
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5437.4.2
Page range: 480-494
Abstract views: 10
PDF downloaded: 0

Oligosoma eludens sp. nov. (Reptilia: Scincidae) from the Hawkdun, Ida, and Saint Bathans Ranges of North Otago, Aotearoa/New Zealand

57 Bute Street; Ranfurly; New Zealand
School of Biological Sciences; Monash University; Clayton; Victoria 3800; Australia
46 Sunrise Boulevard; Tawa; Wellington; New Zealand
Reptilia Oligosoma eludens sp. nov. rockhopper skink Scincidae Reptilializard alpine Hawkdun Ida Otago New Zealand

Abstract

A species of diurnal skink from the Hawkdun, Ida, and Saint Bathans Ranges of North Otago, Aotearoa/New Zealand is described as Oligosoma eludens sp. nov. It is a small species, coloured mid- to dark brown with especially fine, smooth longitudinal stripes, and lives along the edges of greywacke screes in alpine grasslands. This skink is cryptic, fast moving, and displays erratic emergence, generally only being easily detectable in the early morning or evening.

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