Carinascincus ocellatus
Silhouette: David Orr · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
The spotted skink (Carinascincus ocellatus), sometimes called the ocellated cool-skink or ocellated skink, is a skink endemic to Tasmania, Australia. It is a ground-dwelling, viviparous species, usually found in rocky habitats, and widespread in the northern and eastern parts of the state, as well as in the eastern Bass Strait islands. It is often found at Arthurs Lake in the Central Highlands of Tasmania.
Spotted skink populations are distributed along an altitudinal gradient, with variations in thermal conditions along the gradient affecting body temperature regulation and reproductive activity. Skinks in low to mid altitudes achieve their optimal body temperature year-round and predominantly undergo vitellogenesis and ovulation in spring and gestation in summer, while skinks occupying higher, subalpine altitudes struggle to maintain their preferred temperature in the autumn months, and typically undergo ovulation and parturition one month later than other members of the species. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Island National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report an Ocellated Coolskink sighting in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park on a given day, based on 39 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 6 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January
In that month about 60% of wildlife watchers report an Ocellated Coolskink in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June to September, the lowest months.
Between 2 and 5 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Ocellated Coolskink sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
2nd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Ocellated Coolskink sightings, Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park ranks 2nd at about 40%. The best odds are in Maria Island National Park (Australia, about 50%).
Same genus: Carinascincus
The closest relatives of the Ocellated Coolskink that you can see in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (genus Carinascincus, Coolskinks) are Metallic Coolskink (about 80%), Alpine Coolskink (about 30%) and Tasmanian Tree Skink (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Ocellated Coolskink is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (39 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
