White-bellied Skink

The white-bellied skink is a rare, long-tailed striped skink of the mid-Canterbury high country. It has a grey-brown back, dark mid-dorsal stripe, smooth pale side stripes and a plain cream-white belly without speckles.

The species is highly localised around the Rangitata area of inland Canterbury. It is a ground-dwelling skink that uses rocky cover and dense vegetation in exposed high-country habitat.

White-bellied skink is Threatened — Nationally Critical (NZ Threat Classification). Its few localities are sensitive and it is not a dependable target for casual viewing.