Carinascincus ocellatus
Silhouette: David Orr · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~90% 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 50% of wildlife watchers report an Ocellated Coolskink sighting in Maria Island National Park on a given day, based on 36 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 5 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October and December–January
In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report an Ocellated Coolskink in Maria Island National Park on a given day, against about 10% in June to August, 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.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Ocellated Coolskink sightings, Maria Island National Park has the highest daily chance: about 50%. Next come Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (Australia, about 40%) and Freycinet National Park (Australia, about 40%).
Same genus: Carinascincus
The closest relatives of the Ocellated Coolskink that you can see in Maria Island National Park (genus Carinascincus, Coolskinks) are Tasmanian Tree Skink (about 30%) and Metallic Coolskink (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 Maria Island National Park (36 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.
