Barrier skink

The Barrier skink (Oligosoma judgei) is a species of medium-sized skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to New Zealand, where it lives in the alpine habitat of the Darran and Takitimu Mountains of Fiordland. It is one of only two species of New Zealand skinks that live exclusively in the alpine zone, the other being the "Sinbad skink", Oligosoma pikitanga, a closely related species of similar appearance which is found in the same part of the South Island. The Barrier skink was first collected in the 1960s[2] but was overlooked until rediscovery by a pair of mountain climbers in 2005; the species was scientifically described in 2009.

Barrier skink
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Oligosoma
Species:
O. judgei
Binomial name
Oligosoma judgei
Patterson & Bell, 2009

Etymology

The specific name, judgei, is in honor of Bronwyn Judge and Murray Judge, two New Zealand rock climbers who discovered this skink on Barrier Knob.[3]

Conservation status

The conservation status of this species, O. judgei, was thought to be secure, primarily because invasive mammalian predator populations could not become established in the harsh climate of the high alpine zone where they lived and also, because vast areas of undisturbed habitat remain intact.[4] However, in 2012 the Department of Conservation reclassified the Barrier Skink as Nationally Endangered under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[5]

References
  1. Hitchmough, R.; van Winkel, D.; Lettink, M.; Chapple, D. (2019). "Oligosoma judgei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T120189518A120192604. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T120189518A120192604.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Jewell, Tony (2008). A Photographic Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of New Zealand. (Photographs by Rod Morris). New Zealand: New Holland Publishers. 144 pp. ISBN 978-1869662035.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael, Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Oligosoma judgei, p. 137).
  4. Patterson, Geoff B.; Bell, Trent P. (2009). "The Barrier skink, Oligosoma judgei n. sp. (Reptilia: Scincidae) from the Darran and Takitimu Mountains, South Island, New Zealand". Zootaxa 2271: 43-56.
  5. Hitchmough, Rod; Anderson, Peter; Barr, Ben; Monks, Jo; Lettink, Marieke; Reardon, James; Tocher, Mandy; Whitaker, Tony (2012). "Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2012" (PDF). Department of Conservation. The Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
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