Burgan Skink

The Burgan skink is a small alpine species restricted to two inland Otago mountain ranges. Dark brown and olive upperparts have cream or gold flecks, a dark central stripe and pale-edged dark side bands; the underside is grey to yellow-grey.

It is confined to the Rock and Pillar and Lammermoor ranges at roughly 800–1,400 m elevation. This day-active sun-basker uses dense cushion plants and likely retreats into invertebrate burrows during severe cold.

Burgan skink is Threatened — Nationally Vulnerable (NZ Threat Classification). Its high, exposed range and low detectability make encounters uncommon outside targeted surveys.