Nature conservation

Threatened species

Alpine Water 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: Eulamprus kosciuskoi
Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable
Commonwealth status: Vulnerable
Gazetted date: 11 Apr 2025
Profile last updated: 07 May 2026

Description

The alpine water skink is a medium sized lizard that canreach a snout-vent length of 85 mm.  It isolive-brown in colour with a black stripe running down its back (sometimes missingor faint in northern populations). The alpine water skink has a distinct yellowstripe on its side and has an underside of yellow to grey with black spots. Thealpine water skink can be distinguished from the southern water skink, Eulamprus tympanum by its yellow side stripeand, in southern populations, by the present black back stripe. The southernwater skink has a bigger head and a slightly longer snout-vent length than thealpine water skink - reaching a size of 100 mm.


Distribution

In NSW, the alpine water skink is restricted to habitat between1000 – 2000 m. There are two distinct lineages of alpine water skink, a southernlineage and a northern lineage. The southern lineage occurs from the ACT borderto the Victorian boarder in the alpine and sub-alpine areas, whereas the northernlineage occurs in discrete mountainous pockets in the northern NSW Tablelands.


Habitat and ecology

  • The alpine water skink is described as occurring on ‘sky islands’, which are isolated sites on mountains or in high elevation surrounded by unsuitable lowland habitat. The northern and southern lineages are thought to have significant genetic split given the isolation of suitable habitat.
  • The species is often found in boggy areas, alpine streams and wet heath but can be observed basking and foraging during the day on rocks or tussock up to a few hundred metres from wet areas.
  • Skinks take two to three years to reach sexual maturity and are estimated to live between six to ten years.
  • Adults often mate in spring with females giving birth to up to six live young 10-12 weeks after mating.
  • The alpine water skink feeds on invertebrates, tadpoles and other small skinks as well as fruit, on occasions.
  • When disturbed, this species has been observed to flee to yabby holes in sphagnum moss.
  • Male alpine water skink are territorial and will defend their areas from other males.

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

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region
Australian AlpsSnowy Mountains Known
New England TablelandsEbor Basalts Known K
New England TablelandsNortheast Forest Lands Known K
New England TablelandsRound Mountain Known K
New England TablelandsWalcha Plateau Known K
NSW North CoastBarrington Known K
NSW North CoastChaelundi Known K
NSW North CoastCoffs Coast and Escarpment Known K
NSW North CoastTomalla Predicted K
NSW North CoastUpper Manning Known K
NSW North CoastWashpool Predicted
Other StateACT Known K