Fallas Skink

One of New Zealand's largest skinks, Falla's skinks are large (up to 30cm in total length) and robust in build, with a long blunt snout.

Falla's skinks are coloured light-tan to golden-brown, pink-brown or dark-brown dorsally, with darker and lighter speckling, dark lateral striping, and occassionally with a dark mid-dorsal stripe which does not extend onto the tail. Their tail is thick at the base and equal to, or greater in length than their body (SVL), but often regrown.

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Distribution

Found only on Manawatāwhi / the Three Kings Islands, approximately 55 kilometres north-west of Cape Reinga.

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Ecology and habitat

Falla's skinks are cathemeral and will emerge to forage during both day or night. They are avid sun-baskers but a particularly fast-moving / nervous species that will retreat quickly when disturbed.  Falla's skinks occupy a wide range of coastal habitats from the shoreline to coastal forest and scrub, preferring relatively open / sunny areas. They are largely terrestrial, but occassionally climb trees or shrubs to forage above-ground. Falla's skinks use coastal debris, dense vegetation, rocks, logs, or seabird burrows as refuge sites when they are not active foraging or basking.

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Social structure

Largely unknown. Falla's skinks are believed to be solitary although occur at relatively high density in some areas on the Three Kings Islands.

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Breeding biology

Mating occurs in autumn, with up to six young born in late summer / early autumn the following year. Mature females may only reproduce bienially (once every two years). 

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Diet

Falla's skink are omnivorous with a varied diet including a wide range of invertebrates, fruit and berries from native plants, smaller lizards, and regurgitated fish or carrion in seabird colonies. It has been suggested that the Three Kings tītoki (Alectryon excelsus subsp. grandis) may to some degree rely on the Falla's skink for dispersal given that seedlings are often seen sprouting from under rocks and logs.

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Conservation strategy

Falla's skinks are endemic to the Three Kings Islands and occupy their entire historical range. These islands are pest-free, as such the main threat to these skinks is from the introduction of mammalian predators to their island refuges. A captive population of Falla's skinks is held for insurance purposes.