Slight skink
The slight skink ("Oligosoma levidensum") is a skink of the family Scincidae, endemic to the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. The precise distribution is unknown; currently it is only known from localities in the Te Paki region of Northland. It closely resembles the copper skink, "Oligosoma aeneum", and was considered to be a member of this species until recently when it was described as a new species using morphological, allozyme and DNA methods (Chapple et al. 2008). "O. levidensum" is difficult to distinguish morphologically from "O. aeneum", which is probably why it had not  been recognised until recently. The main distinguishing feature is the slighter overall body form of "O. levidensum" compared to "O. aeneum". The limbs of "O. levidensum" are reduced compared to "O. aeneum" and "O. hardyi", the other members of the "O. aeneum" complex. Conservation status. As of 2012 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified the slight skink as Nationally Vulnerable under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.