Falla's Skink

Falla’s skink is a large endemic restricted to the remote Manawatāwhi/Three Kings Islands. Its robust brown body has pale marbling and dark side markings, with a broad head and strong limbs.

It occurs only within the Three Kings group north-west of Cape Reinga. It forages around rocks, litter and seabird burrows for invertebrates, fruit and carrion.

Falla's skink is At Risk — Uncommon (NZ Threat Classification); the naturally tiny island range makes strict biosecurity important. The Three Kings are remote protected islands, so public sightings are exceptional.