Scientists discover second unique lizard on Scawfell Island near Mackay
By Jenae Madden and Liam O'Connell
ABC Tropical North
Topic:Reptiles
13m ago13 minutes agoFri 21 Mar 2025 at 12:22am
A snake-like lizard with orange strips, sittong on a goldish rock.
Conservation work can now begin to ensure the skink's future. (Supplied: Conrad Hoskin)
In short:
A new species of lizard, the Scawfell Island sunskink, has been discovered by researchers on an island north-east of Mackay.
The island has the rare distinction of hosting two unique breeds after the discovery of a leaf-tailed gecko in 2023.
What's next?
Biologists believe there is a plethora of undocumented species of animals across Queensland's islands.
A new lizard species, dubbed the Scawfell Island sunskink (Lampropholis isla), has been formally named after being discovered on an island off north Queensland.
It's the second unique lizard species to be found on the island, with the leaf-tailed gecko discovered at the same remote location in 2023.
James Cook University biologist associate professor Conrad Hoskin, said he first discovered the Scawfell Island sunskink in 2021, but formal identification can be a years-long process.
"It can take a bit of time to get all the work done to ensure it is a distinct species," Dr Hoskin said.
He said multiple island surveys and genetic tests were conducted over four years to confirm the skink was not found anywhere else in the world.
conrad hoskin stands on a mountain on a remote island
Dr Hoskin believes there is enormous biodiversity to be uncovered on Queensland's islands. (Supplied: Conrad Hoskin)
Now identified and named, the Scawfell Island sunskink will be added to the federal government's catalogue of Australian plants and animals.
"From there you can assess if animals meet the threatened species lists," Dr Hoskin said.
The largest skink recorded on the island measured 45.7 millimetres long, excluding the tail.
The species, which is not threatened or endangered, was found in a rainforest on Scawfell Island about 60 kilometres north-east of Mackay during a survey trip with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers.
Two years later in 2023, Dr Hoskin discovered the island's leaf-tailed gecko.
A spiky gecko, with distinct brown and black markings, blending in with a moss-covered rock
The sunskink joins a species of leaf-tailed geckos found only on Scawfell Island. (Supplied: Conrad Hoskin)
Dr Hoskin said the two unique lizard species made the little-known Scawfell Island "stand out".
The newly discovered skink has distinctive orange markings on its sides and lives in rocky rainforest gullies.
Dr Hoskin said he was excited to "add something to the incredible Queensland biodiversity".
"The males have these lovely orange markings," he said.
"Most of the other species are fairly plain in colour."
Dr Hoskin said the discovery was important because small island ecosystems often struggled to support high levels of biodiversity.
A steep hill made up of loose rocks, with grass growing on top of them, the ocean in the background.
Rocky outcrops surround small pockets of rainforest on Scawfell Island, north-east of Mackay. (Supplied: Conrad Hoskin)
"They're cool islands, and they look amazing, but they often don't have particularly good diversity compared to the mainland," he said.
"A handful of other islands have one endemic vertebrate species, including K'gari, Hinchinbrook, and Magnetic Island, but to have two is a stand-out."
In a statement, Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said the formal discovery meant efforts to ensure its protection could begin.
"We will continue to monitor Scawfell Island so that we can act if impacts occur that may affect its unique fauna,"
a spokesperson said.
Missed until now
Skink expert and professor at the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University David Chapple said it was not surprising a unique species had evolved on the island.
"It's quite common for islands to have their own composition of species," Professor Chapple said.
Rainforest trees and vines with rocks on an island.
Small pockets of rainforest are enclosed by rocky outcrops on Scawfell Island. (Supplied: JCU)
Professor Chapple cited competitors and invasive animals such as rats, fire ants, or yellow crazy ants, which could be "a problem" for many reptile species.
Despite the island being surveyed previously, Professor Chapple believed the similarity between many skinks might have made it more difficult to identify a unique breed.
"Unless you're really well versed in how to tell species apart, a lot of the small ground skinks can look quite similar to the untrained eye,"
he said.
That is why Professor Chapple believed there were likely other yet-to-be-discovered species, including reptiles, lurking throughout North Queensland.
"There's lots of under-surveyed areas and lots of islands where there could be other species we're not yet aware of," he said.
Posted13m ago13 minutes agoFri 21 Mar 2025 at 12:22am
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