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Alpine Coolskink (Carinascincus greeni)

The Alpine Cool-skink is a small, diurnal Tasmanian skink found in alpine boulder fields above the tree line, usually at 1000 to 1500 m. It is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act, so rocky alpine habitat, stream and swamp margins, and shelter beneath boulders require careful assessment before clearing or construction.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

Breeding season

Alpine Coolskinks give birth to live young, usually every two years. Birth timing is reported as summer in one source and March in another, while females may carry embryos through a one year gestation, so clearing risks can occur in all seasons, including when animals shelter under snow.

Reproductive mode: Viviparous, giving birth to live young.

Litter size: Usually 2 to 3 young, mean about 2.2. Another source reports 2 to 4 young.

Gestation: About one year, spanning two reproductive seasons.

Size at birth: 30.5 mm snout to vent length reported.

Age at maturity: Age is not recorded. Maturity is reported at about 54 mm for females and 55 mm snout to vent length for males.

Nest or egg sites: No nest or egg site is used because the species carries embryos internally. Shelter is associated with alpine boulder fields and wet ground beneath rocks.

Breeding frequency: Usually every two years, with about 0.5 litters per year.

Confirm timing locally with the project ecologist, because temperature, snow cover, elevation and local rainfall can change surface activity and the timing of births and sheltering.

  • Mating: Mating behaviour and timing are not recorded. Spring fertilisation is reported, with females storing sperm over winter, so September to November is used as the best species based proxy.
  • Gravid females: Females have a one year gestation that spans two reproductive seasons. Exact months when females are visibly gravid are not recorded, so carrying females may be encountered throughout the year.
  • Births: One source states that young are born in summer. Another specifies March, so December to March is shown, with March as the only documented month peak.
  • Newborns: Newborns are expected around the reported birth period. Sources differ between summer and March, and the duration of dependence or shelter use by young is not recorded.
  • Active period: The species is diurnal and basks and forages on exposed rocky surfaces. No species specific activity months are recorded, so September to April represents the general surface active period for an alpine skink, with timing affected by snow and temperature.
  • Winter inactivity: The species overwinters under snow. June to August is shown as the likely period of greatest sheltering in alpine conditions, but the transition into and out of snow cover varies with elevation and weather.
  • Highest clearing risk: Risk is present year round because females may carry embryos and animals shelter beneath rocks or snow. Risk is highest around the reported March births and during winter sheltering, when animals cannot readily escape machinery.

Identification

The Alpine Cool-skink is a small, dark alpine skink associated with boulder fields and wet, rocky margins. It is most likely to be detected when basking on exposed rock during suitable daytime conditions.

Adults are black with many small, pale greenish yellow spots over the head, body, limbs and tail. The spots often form narrow pale stripes along the body. The head is paler and usually has darker spots, while the underside is greenish grey.

Adult snout to vent length: Up to 75 mm.

Newborn snout to vent length: About 25 mm.

Midbody scale rows: 40 to 44 rows around the body.

Identification: Field recognition

It is a four-legged, non-venomous skink that is active by day. Look for individuals basking or moving across exposed rocks in open alpine habitat, particularly near streams and swamps.

  • Record the animal's location, elevation, habitat, weather and photograph the dorsal and lateral pattern where this can be done without handling or prolonged disturbance.
  • Treat small dark skinks in alpine boulder fields as potential Alpine Cool-skinks until an appropriately experienced ecologist confirms the identification.

Identification: Similar species and field signs

The species may occur near the Southern Snow Skink, Carinascincus microlepidotus, and lowland skinks including the Ocellated Skink and Metallic Cool-skink. The supplied sources do not provide a full field key separating these species by colour, scale counts or body proportions.

  • Do not rely on habitat alone where similar Carinascincus species occur.
  • No species-specific tracks, scats, calls, nests, sloughs or eyeshine are described in the supplied documents.
  • Use an experienced reptile ecologist for confirmation where the record could affect project approvals or work limits.

Distribution: National range

The Alpine Cool-skink is endemic to Tasmania and has an isolated mountain, or sky island, distribution. Its known range is restricted to northern and central Tasmania.

The species occurs in Tasmania from the Ben Lomond area west to Cradle Mountain and south to Mount Field National Park. It occurs above the tree line, generally at 1000 to 1500 m elevation.

Australian state: Tasmania only.

Known geographic range: Ben Lomond, west to Cradle Mountain, and south to Mount Field National Park.

Typical elevation: 1000 to 1500 m.

  • The species is not reported from mainland Australia in the supplied documents.
  • The range lies within Tasmania's alpine environments and the Australian Alpine Bioregion.

Distribution: Strongholds and populations

Known range includes Ben Lomond National Park, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and Mount Field National Park. The entire known range occurs within protected areas.

Number of mature individuals: Unknown.

Population trend: Unknown, but projected to decline under climate change.

Generation length: 7 years.

EPBC Act status: Endangered, listed from 21 December 2023.

  • All populations are important because the species has limited dispersal capability and isolated sky island populations are not readily recolonised after local extinction.
  • The species may be locally common where it occurs, but this does not remove the need to protect separate mountain populations.

Habitat: Habitat types

Alpine Cool-skinks occupy high elevation rocky habitat, especially dolerite boulder fields. Moisture and shelter are important because the species has a high rate of evaporative water loss.

The species is found exclusively in high altitude boulder fields, particularly dolerite boulder fields. It is often associated with rocky banks of streams or swamps and generally occurs in open habitat.

  • Map boulder fields, rock banks, stream edges and swamp margins before ground disturbance.
  • Retain connected areas of boulders and the humid ground conditions beneath and between them.
  • Avoid treating open alpine rock as low value habitat simply because it has sparse vegetation.

Habitat: Structural and climatic limits

Important habitat occurs from about 1000 to 1500 m in north central Tasmania, although the suitable elevation range may shift with climate change. The species is predicted to rely on humid areas for survival.

Key substrate: High altitude boulder fields, especially dolerite.

Typical elevation: 1000 to 1500 m.

Moisture association: Humid areas, stream banks and swamp margins.

  • Record elevation, boulder type, rock cover, exposed basking surfaces, wet ground, streams and swamps during habitat assessment.
  • Include nearby boulder fields and wet margins in the assessment where works could alter drainage, humidity or access between shelter sites.
  • The species overwinters under snow.

Foraging habitat: Diet and feeding sites

The Alpine Cool-skink is a diurnal insectivore that feeds on exposed rocky surfaces. Detailed prey lists and foraging ranges are not available in the supplied documents.

The species is insectivorous and carnivorous, with arthropods reported as its food. It basks and forages on exposed rocky surfaces in open alpine habitat.

Diet: Arthropods and other animal prey; described as insectivorous.

Foraging period: Daytime.

Foraging surface: Exposed rocky surfaces.

Foraging range: Not reported in the supplied documents.

  • Inspect exposed rock surfaces, boulder margins and adjacent open ground during daytime fauna searches.
  • Keep search effort focused on warm, suitable basking conditions while avoiding unnecessary movement or lifting of boulders.
  • Do not infer the presence of particular food plants, prey species or a defined foraging distance from the available information.

Breeding habitat: Breeding biology

Breeding occurs within the species' alpine rocky habitat. Females retain developing young and give birth to live young, with a slow reproductive cycle that makes local losses difficult to replace.

The species is viviparous. Females have a biennial reproductive cycle, with a one-year gestation spanning two reproductive seasons. Young are born in summer.

Breeding system: Viviparous, giving birth to live young.

Birth season: Summer.

Young per birth: 2 to 3, mean about 2.2.

Reproductive interval: Biennial.

Gestation: About one year, spanning two reproductive seasons.

Sexual maturity: Smallest observed mature male, 55 mm snout to vent length; smallest observed mature female, 54 mm.

Lifespan: About 10 years reported for alpine Carinascincus species.

Breeding habitat: Breeding habitat features

The supplied documents do not identify a separate nesting site. Breeding habitat is expected to be within the species' occupied alpine boulder fields, including moist shelter beneath rocks and rocky margins of streams or swamps.

  • Protect boulder fields and the humid soil beneath rocks throughout the year, not only during the summer birth period.
  • Avoid disturbing occupied rock piles, stream banks and swamp margins where females and newborn young may shelter.
  • Retain habitat links between basking surfaces and moist refuges.

Sheltering habitat: Known refuges

The species uses rock and wet ground for shelter rather than trees or built structures. Shelter sites can be difficult to detect without careful inspection because animals remain beneath or within boulder fields.

The Alpine Cool-skink burrows into waterlogged soil beneath rocks on the edges of streams and swamps. When threatened, it may swim or shelter beneath submerged rocks, even in very cold water.

Primary shelter: Waterlogged soil beneath rocks.

Shelter settings: Edges of streams and swamps, including submerged rocks.

Winter refuge: Under snow.

  • Do not lift, roll or remove boulders during searches or works unless this has been approved and is supervised by the fauna ecologist.
  • Protect submerged and partly submerged rocks at stream and swamp edges.
  • Maintain wet soil conditions beneath and between boulders.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter information gaps

The supplied documents do not give burrow dimensions, refuge distances, home ranges or densities. No tree hollows, nests, dens or artificial structures are reported as shelter features for this species.

  • Record the size, depth and condition of any refuge exposed during approved works, rather than assuming all shelter sites are equivalent.
  • Stop work and seek ecological direction if a skink or occupied shelter is found beneath a rock or within wet ground.

Threats: Climate and habitat loss

Climate change is the primary threat identified for the Alpine Cool-skink. On a project site, direct habitat loss, fragmentation, altered moisture conditions and disturbance to boulder fields are the main issues to manage.

Climate change is projected to reduce, shift and fragment suitable habitat as conditions move upslope. Modelling cited in the conservation advice projects a loss of about 65 percent of current climatically suitable habitat by 2050 under one emissions scenario and about 93 percent by 2085 under another.

Projected suitable habitat loss by 2050: About 65 percent under the A2 emissions scenario cited in the advice.

Projected suitable habitat loss by 2085: About 93 percent under the RCP6.0 scenario cited in the advice.

Projected upslope movement of alpine plants: About 4 to 10 m per year has been observed in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales; this is not a measured movement rate for the skink.

  • Avoid clearing alpine boulder fields, especially dolerite fields, even where the area is within a protected area.
  • Retain habitat at the upper parts of occupied mountain sites because there is a hard upper elevation limit to upslope movement.
  • Prevent unnecessary fragmentation between boulder fields, streams, swamps and humid refuges.

Threats: Competition and drought

Warmer conditions are allowing lowland skinks, including the Metallic Cool-skink and Ocellated Skink, to occur close to Alpine Cool-skinks. Competition is expected to increase as their ranges overlap. Drought is also a threat because the species loses water rapidly and is expected to depend on humid habitat.

  • Avoid works that drain, dry or divert stream and swamp margins.
  • Maintain natural wet ground and avoid concentrating runoff or sediment into boulder field refuges.
  • Record nearby lowland skinks during surveys because their presence may indicate increasing overlap and competition.

Threats: Project-related disturbance

The conservation advice identifies habitat loss, habitat quality reduction and fragmentation as threats. Clearing, excavation, road formation, laydown areas and rock removal can directly remove boulder field habitat or separate basking and shelter sites.

  • Use no-go areas around alpine boulder fields, stream banks, swamp margins and known records before finalising access routes.
  • Keep vehicles, plant and materials off boulder fields and wet margins where practicable.
  • Stage any approved works outside the summer birth period where the project program allows, and use a fauna spotter catcher for any authorised disturbance in occupied habitat.
  • No species-specific evidence is provided in the supplied documents for disease, vehicle collision, introduced predators or fire as primary threats, so these risks should be assessed through the project-specific ecological assessment rather than assumed to be absent.

Survey methodology: 1. Targeted daytime searches

Carinascincus greeni is an alpine, diurnal skink restricted to high altitude boulder fields, especially dolerite boulder fields, in northern and central Tasmania. The supplied documents do not provide a species-specific survey guideline or prescribed survey effort, so project surveys should be designed by a qualified herpetologist around exposed rocks, stream and swamp margins, and humid rocky refuges.

Survey during daylight when the species is active, basking and foraging on exposed rocky surfaces.

Search high altitude boulder fields, particularly dolerite boulder fields, and rocky banks beside streams and swamps between 1000 and 1500 m elevation where these habitats occur within the known range.

Inspect exposed rocks, rock edges, waterlogged soil beneath rocks, and sheltered spaces beside streams and swamps without unnecessarily moving or damaging habitat.

Record the search area, start and finish times, weather, cloud cover, wind, temperature, recent rain, habitat condition and all animals detected.

Give particular attention to warm periods suitable for basking, while recording conditions because the species relies on humid areas and has a high rate of evaporative water loss.

Known range: Ben Lomond west to Cradle Mountain and south to Mt Field National Park, Tasmania.

Known elevation: Generally 1000 to 1500 m above sea level.

Activity: Diurnal, insectivorous, and associated with exposed rocky surfaces.

Survey methodology: 2. Boulder, rock and refuge searches

Use a structured search of all accessible boulder fields and rocky wetland margins within the proposed disturbance footprint and nearby retained habitat.

Search around, rather than unnecessarily lifting, rocks where possible, because the species burrows into waterlogged soil beneath rocks and shelters beneath submerged rocks when threatened.

If rocks must be moved for an approved survey or fauna management activity, move them by hand, inspect the space beneath them, and replace each rock in its original position and orientation where safe to do so.

Include searches of stream margins, swamp edges and humid depressions because these features provide likely refuge habitat.

Survey methodology: 3. Complementary trapping and repeat surveys

The supplied conservation advice does not prescribe trap types, trap numbers, trap nights, transect lengths, survey area or repeat-survey requirements for this species.

Where daytime searches cannot provide adequate detection confidence, prepare a targeted survey design with a suitably experienced reptile ecologist and obtain any required animal ethics, wildlife and project approvals before trapping or handling animals.

Use methods suited to alpine rocky habitat and minimise exposure to cold, dehydration, flooding and heat; check traps and other devices at a frequency set by the approved method and permit conditions.

Do not use artificial cover objects, pitfall traps, funnel traps or rock disturbance unless the method has been assessed as suitable for the site and authorised under the relevant permit.

Repeat searches across suitable weather and activity conditions where the first survey is affected by cold, rain, snow, strong wind, drought or poor access, and document the reason for any repeat survey.

Specified effort in supplied documents: No species-specific effort schedule is provided.

Reproductive timing: Females have a biennial reproductive cycle, with a one-year gestation spanning two reproductive seasons; young are born in summer.

Survey methodology: Minimum effort and reporting

  • Obtain advice from the relevant Tasmanian wildlife authority and a qualified herpetologist before finalising survey effort for any project in suitable alpine habitat.
  • Map and photograph the full search area, including boulder fields, dolerite outcrops, rocky stream and swamp margins, wet refuges, access tracks and proposed clearing limits.
  • Record negative survey results as well as detections, including the area searched, time spent, weather, search conditions, observers, methods and any limitations.
  • Identify every animal by its current accepted name, Carinascincus greeni, and note that it is also known as the northern snow skink and alpine cool-skink.
  • Submit verified records and spatial data to the relevant Tasmanian wildlife database or government biodiversity records system, and provide records required by project approval conditions.
  • If the species or suitable habitat is detected outside Tasmania, confirm the identification and report the record to the relevant state or territory biodiversity authority because the supplied distribution information places this species in Tasmania.

Before habitat disturbance: Avoid and minimise habitat loss

Treat alpine boulder fields and associated humid rocky wetland margins as potential habitat before works begin. The species is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act, and all known populations are important because isolated sky-island populations are not readily recolonised after local extinction.

  • Redesign the project to avoid high altitude boulder fields, especially dolerite boulder fields, rocky stream banks, swamp margins and waterlogged soil beneath rocks.
  • Retain connected areas of suitable boulder habitat rather than leaving isolated rock patches within the works area.
  • Keep construction access, laydown, stockpiles, drainage works and spoil outside retained boulder fields and humid refuge areas.
  • Have a qualified ecologist map the disturbance footprint, retained habitat, proposed exclusion areas and any suitable nearby refuge habitat before work starts.
  • Do not assume that reserve tenure removes the need for impact assessment, because the entire known range is within protected areas but the species remains threatened.

Before habitat disturbance: Approvals and work planning

National status: Endangered under the EPBC Act, effective from 21 December 2023.

Seasonal information: Young are born in summer, and the species overwinters under snow.

  • Screen the proposal under the EPBC Act before clearing or construction because Carinascincus greeni is nationally listed as Endangered.
  • Confirm Tasmanian wildlife, land management, animal ethics and collection or handling permit requirements before any survey, trapping, capture, relocation or habitat manipulation.
  • Prepare a fauna management plan that identifies the species, habitat to be retained, survey method, fauna spotter catcher responsibilities, stop-work triggers, handling authority, release sites, incident response and reporting requirements.
  • Schedule high-risk habitat disturbance outside periods when gravid females, newborn young or overwintering animals are most likely to be affected, using site-specific advice because females give birth in summer and the species overwinters under snow.
  • Stage clearing so that retained habitat remains connected and animals are not forced towards active machinery, exposed lowland areas or unsuitable dry habitat.

Before habitat disturbance: Site preparation

  • Complete a pre-clearance search of all boulder fields, rocky stream and swamp margins, humid refuges and other mapped habitat immediately before disturbance.
  • Mark no-go areas, retained rocks, wet refuges, stream and swamp margins, access routes and clearing boundaries on plans and on the ground.
  • Install exclusion fencing where it can safely prevent machinery and personnel entering retained habitat, and inspect the fencing after weather events and each day before work.
  • Brief all operators and supervisors on the species' appearance, habitat, reporting chain, handling restrictions and stop-work procedure.
  • Confirm the location and suitability of nearby retained habitat before any authorised relocation is considered.

During habitat disturbance: Daily controls and machinery interface

Keep disturbance under active ecological supervision wherever suitable habitat is being cleared or altered. The species can shelter beneath rocks or in waterlogged soil and may enter water when threatened, so machinery exclusion and careful rock handling are required.

  • Conduct a pre-start inspection each day within and beside the approved work area, including boulder edges, stream and swamp margins, and any rocks scheduled for movement.
  • Keep the fauna spotter catcher in direct communication with machine operators and stop machinery before the spotter approaches a rock, wet refuge or animal.
  • Work progressively from the cleared edge towards the remaining habitat so the spotter can inspect exposed refuges before machinery advances.
  • Use only the approved access tracks and clearing limits, and prevent machinery, spoil, washdown water and stockpiles from entering retained rocky wetland habitat.
  • Stop work immediately if an animal is found, if the clearing boundary is uncertain, if exclusion fencing fails, or if unapproved habitat disturbance occurs.

During habitat disturbance: Rocks, wet refuges and habitat features

  • Treat boulders, rock piles, rocky stream banks, swamp edges and waterlogged soil beneath rocks as fauna habitat features.
  • Do not roll, crush, drop or mechanically rake rocks before they have been inspected by the fauna spotter catcher.
  • Move rocks only where authorised, using methods that maintain worker safety and avoid crushing animals or collapsing adjacent refuges.
  • Keep stream and swamp margins intact unless their disturbance is specifically approved, and prevent sediment, altered drainage and dewatering from drying retained humid habitat.
  • If an occupied refuge must be disturbed, pause the activity and follow the approved capture, release or habitat management procedure.

During habitat disturbance: Animal response and records

  • Require the fauna spotter catcher or other person authorised under the relevant permit to assess and handle any Alpine Cool-skink.
  • Do not allow untrained workers to catch, chase, keep, photograph in the hand or move the animal.
  • Minimise handling time and place the animal in a secure, shaded, suitably ventilated container only when authorised and necessary for immediate safety.
  • Release a healthy animal into nearby retained habitat that matches its rocky, humid and high elevation habitat, only under the approved fauna management plan and permit.
  • Do not move an animal to a distant site, lower elevation habitat or a site occupied by another population unless specifically authorised by the relevant wildlife authority.
  • Take an injured animal to an approved wildlife carer or veterinarian through the project emergency procedure, and record the outcome.
  • Record the date, time, coordinates, habitat feature, activity under way, animal condition, photographs where permitted, handler, action taken, release location and permit or approval reference.
  • Report any death, injury, unauthorised capture, unauthorised habitat disturbance or repeated detection to the project environmental officer and the relevant regulator.

After habitat disturbance: Post-clearance checks

The work area remains a potential source of harm after machinery leaves. Complete follow-up checks, maintain exclusion controls and compare the final disturbance with the approved footprint and habitat plan.

  • Inspect the cleared area and the edge of retained habitat for trapped, injured or displaced skinks, damaged refuges, crushed rocks, drainage changes and breaches of exclusion fencing.
  • Recheck disturbed rocky wetland margins and exposed boulder edges using the approved daytime search method before demobilising ecological supervision.
  • Repair fencing, barriers, drainage controls and sediment controls before the site is left unattended.
  • Remove temporary materials, spoil and waste from retained habitat and restore any access damage where this can be done without further disturbance.

After habitat disturbance: Monitoring and compliance

Monitoring focus: Population size, distribution, ecological requirements, habitat condition and responses to known threats.

  • Continue targeted monitoring in retained habitat where the project has removed, fragmented or altered suitable boulder habitat.
  • Use the same mapped search areas and recording fields as the pre-clearance survey so changes in detections and habitat condition can be assessed.
  • Compare the final clearing footprint with approved plans and report any exceedance, animal incident or habitat damage through the approval reporting process.
  • Maintain fauna records, photographs, permits, daily checklists, relocation details and corrective actions in the project environmental record.
  • Keep habitat protection controls in place until the environmental officer confirms that construction risk has ended.

After habitat disturbance: Offsets and statutory reporting

  • Determine whether an offset, compensatory action or additional approval condition applies before finalising the project response to unavoidable habitat loss.
  • Do not treat an offset as a substitute for avoiding and minimising impacts on alpine boulder fields and isolated populations.
  • Provide required EPBC Act and Tasmanian reports, verified species records and incident information to the relevant authorities within the approval timeframes.

Rehabilitation actions: Restore rocky and wet habitat

Rehabilitation should restore the physical refuges and humid conditions used by this alpine skink, not only replace vegetation. Set objectives around retained boulder habitat, wet refuges, connectivity and protection from drying and competition.

Target habitat: Alpine boulder fields, particularly dolerite boulder fields, at about 1000 to 1500 m elevation, including rocky stream and swamp margins.

  • Reinstate locally sourced rocks and boulders in stable configurations that provide crevices and sheltered spaces, using a qualified ecologist to identify suitable placement.
  • Restore rocky stream banks and swamp margins to their approved contours and drainage pattern, while avoiding further disturbance to occupied refuges.
  • Retain or replace waterlogged soil and humid refuge areas where the approved rehabilitation design allows it.
  • Use locally appropriate alpine and subalpine plant species and seed sources selected by a Tasmanian restoration ecologist, because the supplied documents do not identify a planting list for this species.
  • Do not install nest boxes as a substitute for this species' known rock and wet-soil refuges, because the supplied documents identify boulder fields rather than tree hollows as its habitat.

Rehabilitation actions: Protect rehabilitated habitat

  • Fence or otherwise protect rehabilitated boulder fields and wet refuges from vehicles, stockpiles, trampling and repeated construction access.
  • Control weeds using methods that do not dry, heat or contaminate rocky wetland refuges and that comply with the approved site environmental plan.
  • Manage drainage so rehabilitated habitat remains humid and does not receive concentrated sediment or polluted runoff.
  • Assess predator and introduced species risks with the land manager and apply approved controls where monitoring shows a local impact.
  • Coordinate fire planning with the land manager and relevant Indigenous custodians, recognising that the supplied conservation advice does not prescribe a species-specific fire regime.

Rehabilitation actions: Monitoring and success measures

Recommended conservation monitoring: Population size, distribution, ecological requirements and responses to climate change, drought and competition with lower elevation congeners.

  • Monitor rock stability, refuge availability, soil moisture, stream and swamp condition, vegetation establishment, weed cover, fencing condition and unauthorised access.
  • Repeat standardised daytime searches in rehabilitated and reference habitat during suitable activity conditions, recording effort and detections consistently.
  • Set project success measures before works begin, including restored boulder and wetland features, functioning drainage, retained connectivity, no new weed or access impacts, and evidence that suitable refuge habitat persists.
  • Compare rehabilitation monitoring with modelled and observed population trends where data are available, and revise the management response if habitat condition or detections decline.
  • Submit verified post-rehabilitation records to the relevant Tasmanian biodiversity database and include the results in approval reports.

Sources