Skinks in New Zealand

The grand and Otago skinks are two of our most endangered, rare skinks in New Zealand and you probably won't see them in your backyard but we do have other skinks and these ones you will be able to see!

There are about 33 different species of skinks found in many different places around New Zealand and almost half of those species are endangered or threatened.

You can find more information about skinks (and geckos) on this page from the Science Learning Hub.

The most common native skinks you are likely to see in your garden are:
Common skink (Oligosoma polychroma)


McCann's skink (Oligosoma maccanni)


If you see these skinks and you have a cat - watch out - cats are one of the worst predators of skinks! If you can, keep your cat in at night to help protect our native skinks.

Keep your eyes peeled - the best way to spot skinks is on a warm, sunny day around rocks and tussocks - you need to be very quiet and move very slowly to see them sitting still. Try to get a photo of one when you have become a great spotter. Send me your skink photos and I'll publish them on the blog.