SPECIES: Harrisoniascincus zia — Rainforest Cool-skink
CLASSIFICATION: Vulnerable
The Rainforest Cool-skink is a shy, slender lizard found only in the cool, moist rainforests of north-eastern Tasmania. With its smooth scales, glossy bronze-brown body, and pale underbelly, it blends beautifully with the damp leaf litter and mossy logs it calls home. This secretive skink is active mainly at night or during overcast days, relying on the stable, shaded microclimate of the forest floor to survive. It is the only species of its genus, making it a truly unique part of Tasmania’s natural heritage.
Sadly, this elusive reptile is under threat due to its very limited range and ongoing habitat loss. Clearing of native forest, altered fire regimes, and climate change all threaten the cool, moist environments it depends on. As temperatures rise and rainfall patterns shift, the Rainforest Cool-skink’s refuge shrinks. Protecting remaining rainforest patches and maintaining healthy understorey vegetation are vital to ensuring this quiet forest dweller continues to thrive in Tasmania’s hidden green heart.
Photo: Nicholas Gale