[1] They can be found in a range of habitats from coastal to alpine,[4] preferring to remain near dense vegetation or rock piles, where they feed mostly on insects and some berries.

[2] The lower side (lateral) colouring is also speckled, with white, golden brown and black flecks.

[2] Green skinks breed once per year, with 1-4 young produced in late summer (February-March).

[2] As of 2021 the Department of Conservation (DOC) classified the green skink as Nationally Critical under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, in part due to the reclassification of the species within the species complex and fewer animals observed in their reduced geographic area.

[1] Green skinks are also vulnerable due to their large size and habitat loss through land modification.