About
The Critically Endangered Bojer’s skink was once widespread across Mauritius and its surrounding islands. However, due to predation by invasive wolf snakes and musk shrews, this distinctive skink is now only found on several small islets of Mauritius.
This species has suffered a catastrophic population decline, losing in excess of 80% of the total population since 2010. The decline has been driven by invasive mammalian predators and the risk of invasion remains for the smaller islets.
Bojer’s skink is the only species in its genus and diverged from all living species more than 30 million years ago. In comparison, humans diverged from our closest relatives less than 7 million years ago!
Individuals were translocated to a small islet to re-establish this species in its historical range, minimise extinction risk and maintain the genetic diversity of this species. The success of this translocation has shown the strategy to be an effective conservation tool for Bojer’s skink.
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Scincidae
- Population: 120,000
- Trend: stable
- Size: 6cm (?)
EDGE Score
Distribution
This species found on several islets surrounding the main island of Mauritius.
Habitat and Ecology
This species occupies most available habitats. It is primarily terrestrial and is frequently encountered scaling vertical rocky features, trees, and shrubs to bask or forage. Bojer’s skink is diurnal and their diet consists of small invertebrates and fruit.
