What’s Happening?
A new skink species has been found on Scawfell Island, an isolated island 50km off Mackay in North Queensland.
The Scawfell Island Sunskink (Lampropholis isla) was named by Associate Professor Conrad Hoskin from James Cook University and found in partnership with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Partnerships Rangers.
Scawfell Island, one of the South Cumberland Islands National Park, already featured the leaf-tailed gecko, which is a species discovered in 2023.
The recent discovery makes the island the sole island in Queensland that boasts two distinctive vertebrate species.
Why It Matters?
Australia is not usually visited by newly found vertebrate species, and this discovery is therefore remarkable.
The discovery puts Scawfell Island at the forefront as a biodiversity hotspot and emphasises the need for conversation in the area.
Assoc Prof Hoskin pointed to the importance of the discovery of a new species today:
“It is thrilling to discover a new species in Australia in this modern era, and especially thrilling to discover a well-coloured species completely limited to this heaven of an island.”
Local Impact
The discovery of the Scawfell Island Sunskink contributes to the ecological value of Mackay‘s islands. The find not only contributes to the knowledge of the island‘s biodiversity but also helps in conservation efforts to safeguard such rare species.
Whitsundays region Senior QPWS Ranger Sarah Jordan emphasized the value of island diversity:
“The fact that these endemic species have been found on Scawfell Island reinforces the inherent worth of the island national parks that we protect.
Our conservation strategy is aimed at protecting these special ecosystems from potential risk.”
By the Numbers:
- 2 endemic vertebrate species now restricted to Scawfell Island (the Scawfell Island Sunskink and the leaf-tailed gecko).
- 50km east of Mackay, Scawfell Island is part of the South Cumberland Islands National Park.
- 1st island in Queensland confirmed to have two unique vertebrate species.
Zoom In
Surveys conducted on other islands within the South Cumberland Islands National Park failed to find either the leaf-tailed gecko or the sunskink, confirming their exclusive presence on Scawfell Island.
Assoc Prof Hoskin described the significance of these findings:”A few other islands have a single endemic vertebrate species, such as K‘gari, Hinchinbrook, and Magnetic Island, but no other island is reported to have two until now.”
Zoom Out
The identification of this new species enables improved conservation management. Although there are no current threats to the Scawfell Island Sunskink, its restricted distribution makes monitoring and protection essential.
Assoc Prof Hoskin emphasized the need to officially acknowledge new species: “Until you find it, it‘s not on anyone’s radar, and it takes the finding and the naming of it before you can begin conserving it. They may be doing quite well now, but anything that’s just found in one place you‘ve got to be keeping a close eye on.”
What to Look For Next?
With the official description of the Scawfell Island Sunskink, conservationists will strive for long-term monitoring and evaluating possible environmental changes that would affect the species. Future biodiversity surveys might reveal additional distinct species in the South Cumberland Islands National Park.
The research article describing the discovery is published in the Australian Journal of Taxonomy and is accessible online.
