Chatham islands skink
A species of Oligosoma Scientific name : Oligosoma nigriplantare Genus : Oligosoma
Chatham islands skink, A species of Oligosoma
Scientific name: Oligosoma nigriplantare
Genus: Oligosoma
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Robert Engberg , used under CC-BY-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The Chatham Islands skink, Oligosoma nigriplantare, is a species of skink in the family Scincidae.
General Info
Lifespan
8-12 years
Diet
Chatham islands skink is primarily an insectivorous species, indulging mostly in a diet of invertebrates. Distinctly, it has a notable preference for preying on spiders and beetles, supplementing with other small arthropods when necessary.
Appearance
Chatham islands skink is a relatively small and slender lizard with a sleek, slightly elongated body covered in sleek scales. Primarily a dark grey to black, it has notable greenish-yellow specks distributed over its body. The subspecies 'polychroma' features more diverse spots in shades of green, yellow and orange. Its tail is almost twice the length of its head and body combined, tapering to a point. There are no significant variations in appearance due to age or gender.
Behavior
Chatham islands skink is a diurnal reptile with a solitary lifestyle, observed mostly in rock crevices or leaf litter. Its activities mainly include basking and foraging for invertebrates during the day. It communicates through visual displays using its brightly colored undersides. This species is highly territorial, fiercely defending their limited home range, particularly during the mating season.
Population
Stable
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Lizards and snakes Family
Skinks Genus
Oligosoma Species
Chatham islands skink 
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