Common New Zealand Skink
Common New Zealand SkinkCommon New Zealand SkinkCommon New Zealand SkinkCommon New Zealand Skink

Common New Zealand Skink

Oligosoma polychroma

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
5 Verified records at Aoraki Mount Cook National Park
March Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The common skink (Oligosoma polychroma), also known as the northern grass skink, is a species of skink native to New Zealand. Although historically classified as a subspecies of Oligosoma nigriplantare, it is likely to be given separate species status as data suggests it is a distinct species. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Common New Zealand Skink sighting in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
20–30
Mar
10–20
Apr
<5
May
20–30
Jun
10–20
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
10–20
Oct
10–20
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
30–40%
2 Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
10–20%
3 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
5–10%
4 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data
5 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data
6 Tongariro National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common New Zealand Skink in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?

About 16% of wildlife watchers report a Common New Zealand Skink sighting in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, based on 5 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common New Zealand Skink in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Common New Zealand Skink in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park in our monthly data.

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