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Oligosoma sp.


Oligosoma sp.
Photo Information
Copyright: Steve Reekie (LordPotty) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1449 W: 146 N: 3764] (12035)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-19
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/2.7, 1/40 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-03-08 10:24
Viewed: 788
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Common Skink
Oligosoma sp.

To date,the only New Zealand reptiles I have posted on Trek Nature have been some of our colourful species of native Gecko.
We do,however,have several species of Skink as well.
I found this one underneath a piece of driftwood on a beach just south of Greymouth.

In a country where there are virtually no native land mammals,other than two species of tiny bat,the conservation of our reptile species is very important.
The reasons for this are outlined in this extract from the herpetology page of the Landcare Research website:

Lizards are the only other major indigenous vertebrate taxa in New Zealand besides birds.

Lizards are New Zealand’s second largest vertebrate group and occupy almost all ecosystems.
Currently only 47 of at least 80+ species are described.

More than half of this fauna is classified as rare, threatened or endangered.

New Zealand lizards are unique in terms of endemism and evolutionary significance, but these unique attributes also put lizards at enhanced risk from introduced mammalian predators.

Lizards are critical for ecosystem processes and function, with ecological roles such as pollination, frugivory and associated seed dispersal, or honeydew feeding. Lizards also are high-level trophic predators and have various generalist and specialist roles in ecosystems and can be exceptionally abundant when released from mammalian predation pressure.

Lizards are only now emerging as iconic flagship and indicator species for conservation and ecological restoration.

Fortunately,Landcare Research has a dedicated team,committed to the conservation of endemic species in New Zealand,and reptiles and amphibians are given high priority.

I hope you like this photo of one of our native Skinks.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers
Steve
Argus, red45, Gert-Paassen, gannu, eng55, rousettus, nglen, haraprasan has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To red45: AlchemyLordPotty 1 03-10 02:09
To ellis49: Thank you GertLordPotty 1 03-08 10:48
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Critiques [Translate]

Namastay Steve,
A nice capture of this beautiful New Zealand Skink. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Steve,
Your picture of the common skink is very nice.
I like the curve pose of it and the pattern of on the body.
Pretty sharp with fine details and nice natural colours.
Well done, mf.
Gert

any know camera yet?
I wish I have one to sent to NZ.
But my old S1 is broken and doesn't work.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2009-03-08 11:04]

Hi Steve. Firstly thanks for the interesting notes on the Skink. I did not know you had so few Native land mammals. You have taken a fine close up with good detail and rich colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Steve
very beautiful Skink species. It similar to Mabuya's skinks here. You captured it nicely in its natural biotop. great POV and eyes contact. Nicely composed and focused, with good informative notes. Thanks for sharing, have a nice week, my friend
Ahmet

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1151 W: 32 N: 1192] (3654)
  • [2009-03-08 12:49]

Hi Steve,
Lovely capture.POV,details,sharpness and composition are wondereful.Excellent note too!
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2009-03-09 10:21]

Steve, Namastay as said by HP. The capture is very good and composed really well. Sharp details and good picture. Ganesh

Hi Steve,

very nice capture from this Reptile.
good of details.
Beautiful colours.

Gert

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2009-03-10 1:35]
  • [+]

Hi Steve!

Very nice capture. This reptile looks like an alchemical symbol [LOL!]. Superb golden-rusty colours and good dorsal POV.

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2582] (9107)
  • [2009-03-10 3:11]

Hi Steve,
surely NZ has so many unique and special animal. This one looks very different and wild. The surrounding is so details and it gives the idea how this reptiles survive and lives.
Great clarity and the lighting is well exploited to highlight the scales of the lizard.

Regards,
Foozi

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2009-03-11 7:53]

Hello Steve,
Nice capture of the front half of a NZ skink taken from a fine POV and contrasting nicely with the peaty surroundings.
TFS,
Cheers,
Ivan

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