Scree Skink

The scree skink is a long-bodied South Island skink specialised for loose rock slopes. Its grey-brown body is finely mottled to match scree, with a wedge-shaped head, reduced-looking limbs and a long tapering tail.

It occurs locally in eastern South Island mountain systems, where it occupies deep spaces within scree. It moves through gaps beneath loose stones and emerges to bask and take invertebrate prey.

Scree skink is Threatened — Nationally Vulnerable (NZ Threat Classification). It is difficult to observe safely because it spends much of its time below unstable scree.