FIGURE 8. a in Lost and Found: Taxonomic revision of the speckled skink (Oligosoma infrapunctatum; Reptilia; Scincidae) species complex from New Zealand reveals a potential cryptic extinction, resurrection of two species, and description of three new species

FIGURE 8. a) Tail prehensility in subadult Oligosoma salmo sp. nov. (61 mm snout-vent; 4.05 g) (photo: Sabine Bernert). This has been observed in many individuals of this species - all those with intact or largely intact tails which have been tested. The grip of the tail on the finger was felt as very firm. b) In this individual (subadult male; 67 mm snout-vent, 6.19 g) the strength of the muscle contraction is shown by the formation of longitudinal ridges in the dorsal scales of the tail, which are normally completely smooth (photo: Lynn Adams).