Wildlifeof New Zealand
Hardy's Skink
Skinks
Photo: (c) Oscar Dove, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0
Oligosoma hardyi
Basic stats
Habitat
Rocky coast and dense ground cover in the far north
Range
Cavalli Islands and Northland coast
Size
Snout–vent length up to about 60 mm
Hardy’s skink is a small copper-skink relative restricted to islands and coastal sites in far northern New Zealand. It is brown with a copper-toned side stripe, dark edging and a pale spotted throat, but has proportions and scale features distinct from copper skinks.
Its limited range lies around the Cavalli Islands and nearby Northland coast. It shelters beneath rocks and litter and eats small invertebrates and fruit.
Hardy's skink is At Risk — Uncommon (NZ Threat Classification). Its island-centred range and secretive habits make observations uncommon.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Hardy's Skink live in?
- Rocky coast and dense ground cover in the far north
- Where is the Hardy's Skink found?
- Cavalli Islands and Northland coast
- How big is the Hardy's Skink?
- Snout–vent length up to about 60 mm