NZ’s only egg-laying lizard lays low

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-12-23 03:00

New Zealand

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Little is known about our only egg-laying lizard Oligosoma suteri, says a research team who searched the Coromandel’s Korapuki Island for the native skink’s habitat choices. Nests were hard to spot: fewer than half a nest was found per person-hour of searching. Thermal analysis suggests female skinks select nest sites based on temperature, and incubation was similar in length to successful lab studies. The authors say possible translocation sites should be checked for temperature, including sites beyond this lizard’s current hangout range if future climate change affects the species’ habitat.