About Oligosoma aeneum (Girard, 1858)
Copper skink, scientifically known as Oligosoma aeneum (Girard, 1858), is a species of skink in the family Scincidae that is endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. This skink occurs across most of the North Island, but is not found in large portions of the Hawkes Bay region. It also lives on many islands off the North Island coast, including Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island. The copper skink lives in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from forested areas and urban gardens to sand dune ecosystems and farm land. Like many other skinks, it has a mostly carnivorous diet, feeding primarily on small insects and other small invertebrates. This species is viviparous. Mating takes place in spring, and females give birth to between 3 and 7 relatively large offspring in late summer. Copper skinks are mainly active during the daytime, and are occasionally active during twilight.
