Aorangi Skink

The Aorangi skink is found only on the Poor Knights Islands off Northland. It is a sturdy brown skink with pale flecks and a conspicuous pale teardrop marking beneath the eye.

Its entire natural range is within the Poor Knights archipelago, including Aorangi Island. It searches island litter and rocks for invertebrates and fruit, benefiting from dense seabird colonies.

Aorangi skink is At Risk — Uncommon (NZ Threat Classification); its restricted island range is naturally small. The Poor Knights are nature reserves with landing restrictions, so sightings are normally limited to authorised work.