Alpine cool-skink
| Alpine cool-skink | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Carinascincus |
| Species: | C. greeni |
| Binomial name | |
| Carinascincus greeni (Rawlinson, 1975) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
The alpine cool-skink (Carinascincus greeni),[2] also known commonly as the northern snow skink, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Eugongylinae of the family Scincidae. It is endemic to Tasmania, Australia where it mainly occurs within the north of the state. [3]
Etymology
[edit]The specific name, greeni, is in honor of Tasmanian ornithologist Robert "Bob" Green.[4]
Classification
[edit]This species was previously known as Niveoscincus greeni, however it has been reclassified as Carinascincus, along with several other species from the genus Niveoscincus.
Description
[edit]Carinascincus greeni is an alpine skink which has small dark scales with pale green to bronze spots. The head is sometimes paler than the body, with larger spots. [5][6] C. greeni has been found to grow to a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of up to 7.5 cm (3.0 in), with midbody scales in 40–44 rows around the body. [7][6]
Habitat and geographic distribution
[edit]
Carinascincus greeni is skink species endemic to alpine areas of Tasmania above 1,000 m (3,300 ft) of elevation. [9] The species is mostly observed around Cradle Mountain and the central plateau, however it is found as far east as Ben Lomond National Park and as far south as Mt Field.[6]
It is restricted to rocky banks of streams and swamps, as well as boulder fields where it can often be found basking. [7] Where it co-occurs with other species within the same genus such as Carinascincus microlepidotus, C. greeni has been found to competitively exclude the other species from the optimal basking spots of exposed rocks and boulders. [9]
Reproduction
[edit]Carinascincus greeni has adapted to the cooler climate of high altitudes by evolving viviparity, retaining its eggs during the gestation process and giving birth to live young. [10] Retaining its eggs during gestation is what has allowed C. greeni to protect its eggs from the rapid changes in temperature the eggs would otherwise be exposed to in the alpine environments it inhabits.[11] This skink species gives birth to a litter of 2–4 young around March, and only reproduces biannually; females can store sperm over the winter and fertilize their eggs during spring.[6]
Threats
[edit]Carinascincus greeni is listed as "Vulnerable" under the IUCN Red List, with the main threat being climate change, which is likely to reduce the extent of cool habitats the species relies on.[1] In addition, climate change may cause lowland skink species such as Carinascincus metallicus and Carinascincus ocellatus to encroach on the limited habitat that C. greeni occupies. [12] This threat is compounded by the fact that these lowland species reproduce annually instead of biannually like C. greeni. [1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Chapple, D.G.; Robertson, P.; Michael, D.; Clemann, N.; Wapstra, E. (2017). "Carinascincus greeni ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T109480598A109480609. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T109480598A109480609.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- 1 2 Carinascincus greeni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
- ↑ Melville, Jane (2002). "Competition and character displacement in two species of scincid lizards". Ecology Letters. 5 (3): 386–393. doi:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2002.00328.x. ISSN 1461-023X.
- ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Niveoscincus greeni, p. 107).
- ↑ "Carinascincus greeni ALPINE COOL-SKINK". reptilesofaustralia.com. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- 1 2 3 4 "Northern Snow Skink | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania". nre.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
- 1 2 Rawlinson, P.A. (1975). "Two new lizard species from the genus Leiolopisma (Scincidae: Lygosominae) in southeastern Australia". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 36: 1–15. doi:10.24199/j.mmv.1975.36.01. Retrieved 2026-03-16. (Leiolopisma greeni, new species).
- ↑ "Carinascincus greeni (Rawlinson, 1975) Alpine Cool-Skink | Atlas of Living Australia". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
- 1 2 Melville, J.; Swain, R. (1999). "Habitat associations and natural history of the Tasmanian "snow skinks" (Niveoscincus spp.)". Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania: 57–64. doi:10.26749/rstpp.133.1.57. ISSN 0080-4703.
- ↑ Van Dyke, James U.; Thompson, Michael B.; Burridge, Christopher P.; Castelli, Meghan A.; Clulow, Simon; Dissanayake, Duminda S. B.; Dong, Caroline M.; Doody, J. Sean; Edwards, Danielle L.; Ezaz, Tariq; Friesen, Christopher R.; Gardner, Michael G.; Georges, Arthur; Higgie, Megan; Hill, Peta L. (2021). "Australian lizards are outstanding models for reproductive biology research". Australian Journal of Zoology. 68 (4): 168–199. doi:10.1071/ZO21017. ISSN 0004-959X.
- ↑ Atkins, Natalia; Swain, Roy; Jones, Susan M. (2007). "Are babies better in autumn or spring? The consequences of extending gestation in a biennially reproducing viviparous lizard". Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology. 307A (7): 397–405. doi:10.1002/jez.394. ISSN 1932-5223.
- ↑ "Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. (2023). Conservation advice for Carinascincus microlepidotus (southern snow skink). Australian Government" (PDF).
Further reading
[edit]- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350. (Carinascincus greeni, p. 427).
- Hutchinson MN, Donnellan SC, Baverstock PR, Krieg M, Simms S, Burgin S (1990). "Immunological relationships and generic revision of the Australian lizards assigned to the genus Leiolopisma (Scincidae: Lygosominae)". Australian Journal of Zoology 38 (5): 535–554. (Niveoscincus greeni, new combination).
- Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1921517280. (Niveoscincus greeni).