Nature conservation

Threatened species

Mountain Skink - profile

Indicative distribution


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Key:
known
predicted
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Liopholis montana
Conservation status in NSW: Endangered
Commonwealth status: Endangered
Gazetted date: 04 Aug 2023
Profile last updated: 05 Mar 2025

Description

The Mountain Skink is a medium sized lizard with a snout-vent length of up to 111 mm. There are two distinct colour morphs in this species: a patterned morph and a plain colour morph. Both morphs generally have grey-brown heads, bodies, limbs, and tails. They differ in that the plain morph has a plain back and a reddish-brown underside, whereas the patterned morph has a series of blotches running along the side of its body. Juvenile Mountain Skink can also have light-coloured spots that fade in adulthood. Mountain Skink appear similar to Liopholis guthega and Liopholis whitii but do not have longitudinal stripes characteristic of L. guthega or the dark outlined pale dots of L. whitii.


Distribution

The Mountain Skink occurs in isolated populations between elevations of 620 m to 1800 m. The Mountain Skink occurs in the Australian Alps in New South Wales (NSW), the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and in Victoria (VIC).


Habitat and ecology

  • The Mountain Skink occurs in both subalpine and montane regions within the ACT, VIC and NSW. Preferred habitats are usually rocky boulders, rock slabs, rock screes and large logs in open woodland and heathy vegetation.
  • The Mountain Skink is highly social and occurs in small, isolated colonies. The skinks construct burrows and warren networks beneath rocks. Skinks use the entrance to these burrows to bask and forage.
  • Little is known about how Mountain Skink disperse but they are believed to have high site fidelity. It is thought that females can give birth to up to four live young, however the breeding biology of the mountain skink is largely unknown.
  • The diet of the Mountain Skink is likely to be dominated by invertebrates, which are taken opportunistically, with some plant material, including small fruits.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.


Threats

Recovery strategies

Activities to assist this species

Information sources

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region
Australian AlpsSnowy Mountains Known
Other StateACT Known