A living guide to Kauaʻi
Kauaʻi species, habitats and conservation records
Explore the island’s native and introduced species, habitats, watersheds and conservation work. Each record connects its description, images and sources with the interactive Atlas.
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Cane Toad
Rhinella marina
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Japanese Wrinkled Frog
Glandirana rugosa
Japanese Wrinkled Frog (Glandirana rugosa) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Common Coqui
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Common Coqui (Eleutherodactylus coqui) is locally established on Kauaʻi and subject to active detection and control; its island distribution is dynamic.
Greenhouse Frog
Eleutherodactylus planirostris
Greenhouse Frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
European Toad
Bufo bufo
European Toad (Bufo bufo) has verified historical Kauaʻi records, but current persistence has not been demonstrated.
Moth Skink
Ornithuroscincus noctua
Moth Skink (Ornithuroscincus noctua) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Mottled Snake-eyed Skink
Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus
Mottled Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus) is established on Kauaʻi, but whether its Hawaiian presence reflects early human introduction or natural pre-human colonization remains unresolved.
Delicate Skink
Lampropholis delicata
Delicate Skink (Plague Skink) (Lampropholis delicata) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Azure-tailed Skink
Emoia impar
Azure-tailed Skink (Emoia impar) had a documented historical Kauaʻi population that is now considered extirpated.
Pacific Bluetail Skink
Emoia cyanura
Pacific Bluetail Skink (Emoia cyanura) had a documented historical Kauaʻi population that is now considered extirpated.
Brown Anole
Anolis sagrei
Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Gold Dust Day Gecko
Phelsuma laticauda
Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Mourning Gecko
Lepidodactylus lugubris
Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Indo-Pacific Tree Gecko
Hemiphyllodactylus typus
Indo-Pacific Tree Gecko (Hemiphyllodactylus typus) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Indo-Pacific House Gecko
Hemidactylus garnotii
Indo-Pacific House Gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Common House Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus
Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Stump-toed Gecko
Gehyra mutilata
Stump-toed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Brahminy Blindsnake
Indotyphlops braminus
Brahminy Blindsnake (Indotyphlops braminus) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Chinese Softshell Turtle
Pelodiscus sinensis
Chinese Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle
Palea steindachneri
Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle (Palea steindachneri) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans
Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) is a documented established nonnative species on Kauaʻi.
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
Green Sea Turtle (Honu) (Chelonia mydas) is an indigenous marine reptile documented in Kauaʻi waters; local nesting/foraging details are represented only at conservation-safe public precision.
Hawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Honuʻea) (Eretmochelys imbricata) is an indigenous marine reptile documented in Kauaʻi waters; local nesting/foraging details are represented only at conservation-safe public precision.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Caretta caretta
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) is an indigenous sea turtle documented throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands and is a rare offshore visitor around Kauaʻi.
Leatherback Sea Turtle
Dermochelys coriacea
Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is an indigenous sea turtle documented throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands and is a rare offshore visitor around Kauaʻi.
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys olivacea
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) is an indigenous sea turtle documented throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands and is a rare offshore visitor around Kauaʻi.
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake
Hydrophis platurus
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus) is state-recognized as indigenous to Hawaiʻi, but Kauaʻi-specific occurrence remains poorly documented.
Veiled Chameleon
Chamaeleo calyptratus
Veiled Chameleon. Scientific name: Chamaeleo calyptratus. Common names: Veiled Chameleon. Family: Chamaeleonidae
Jackson's Chameleon
Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus
Jackson's Chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus) has conflicting Kauaʻi status evidence: literature reports historical establishment, while current local invasive-species information does not recognize an established population.
Green Iguana
Iguana iguana
Green Iguana. Scientific name: Iguana iguana. Common names: Green Iguana. Family: Iguanidae
Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictor
Boa Constrictor. Scientific name: Boa constrictor. Common names: Boa Constrictor. Family: Boidae
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
Gopher Snake. Scientific name: Pituophis catenifer. Common names: Gopher Snake. Family: Colubridae
Southern Alligator Lizard
Elgaria multicarinata
Southern Alligator Lizard. Scientific name: Elgaria multicarinata. Common names: Southern Alligator Lizard. Family: Anguidae
African Spurred Tortoise
Centrochelys sulcata
African Spurred Tortoise (Sulcata) (Centrochelys sulcata) occurs at Makauwahi as a managed local ecological experiment/demonstration population, not as a free-ranging Kauaʻi species.
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) occurs at Makauwahi as a managed local ecological experiment/demonstration population, not as a free-ranging Kauaʻi species.
Hawaiian Mussel
Brachidontes crebristriatus
A small Hawaiian endemic mussel forming colonies on wave-washed rock. A 2004 survey documented it at three Kauaʻi harbor and reef stations; that evidence does not establish present-day abundance.
Orbita Cockle
Vasticardium orbita
A cockle directly recorded from Kauaʻi in the Bishop Museum 2002–2003 nearshore assessment under the older combination Trachycardium orbita. Current taxonomy places it in Vasticardium.
Cuming's Mussel
Septifer cumingii
Directly recorded on Kauaʻi by Bishop Museum as Septifer bryanae. MolluscaBase/WoRMS now treats that name as a synonym of Septifer cumingii.
Baggy Pen Shell
Streptopinna saccata
A thin, ruffled pen shell documented at Hoʻai Bay in a November 2002 Kauaʻi reef survey. The complete adult reconstruction shows the wedge-shaped shell in representative sandy reef habitat; current abundance has not been assessed.
Violet Spiny Oyster
Spondylus violacescens
TR29a appendix and NOAA HCRI reef report both record Spondylus violacescens from Kauaʻi stations/surveys.
Rasp Tellin
Scutarcopagia scobinata
A tellin directly recorded from Kauaʻi under the older name Tellina scobinata. Current taxonomy uses Scutarcopagia scobinata.
Native Hawaiian Oyster
Dendostrea sandvichensis
A small attached oyster with irregular ribs and toothed margins, occurring in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific. Historical surveys documented it at Nawiliwili and Port Allen on Kauaʻi.
Acantholobulus pacificus
Acantholobulus pacificus
Acantholobulus pacificus is a decapod crustacean in the family Panopeidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Acantholobulus pacificus (Edmondson, 1931). Published sources characterize its origin status as Introduced. Published Kauaʻi
Actumnus obesus
Actumnus obesus
Actumnus obesus is a decapod crustacean in the family Pilumnidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Actumnus obesus Dana, 1852. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Port Allen reef and Port Allen Harbor. The cited evid
Polynesian Wracklouse
Alloniscus oahuensis
Alloniscus oahuensis (Alloniscus oahuensis) is a confirmed Kauaʻi crustacean species documented from Kauaʻi. The occurrence is retained with its source date and status so historical evidence is not presented as a current population estimate
Alona cambouei
Alona cambouei
Alona cambouei is a branchiopod crustacean in the family Chydoridae. Its current scientific name is cited as Alona cambouei Guerne & Richard, 1893. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Kauaʻi. The cited evidence includes rec
Snapping shrimp
Alpheus brevipes
Alpheus brevipes is a decapod crustacean in the family Alpheidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Alpheus brevipes Stimpson, 1860. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Nawiliwili reef (Marriott Hotel reef). The cited
Snapping shrimp
Alpheus paradentipes
Alpheus paradentipes is a decapod crustacean in the family Alpheidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Alpheus paradentipes Coutière, 1905. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Port Allen reef. The cited evidence incl
Snapping shrimp
Alpheus paralcyone
Alpheus paralcyone is a decapod crustacean in the family Alpheidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Alpheus paralcyone Coutière, 1905. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Nawiliwili Harbor and Port Allen Harbor. The
Amakusanthura inornata
Amakusanthura inornata
Amakusanthura inornata is an isopod crustacean in the family Anthuridae. Its current scientific name is cited as Amakusanthura inornata (Miller & Menzies, 1952). Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Nawiliwili reef (Marriott
Amphibalanus amphitrite
Amphibalanus amphitrite
Amphibalanus amphitrite is an acorn barnacle in the family Balanidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Amphibalanus amphitrite (Darwin, 1854). Published sources characterize its origin status as Introduced. Published Kauaʻi evidence
Amphibalanus eburneus
Amphibalanus eburneus
Amphibalanus eburneus is an acorn barnacle in the family Balanidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Amphibalanus eburneus (Gould, 1841). Published sources characterize its origin status as Introduced. Published Kauaʻi evidence docum
Amphibalanus reticulatus
Amphibalanus reticulatus
Amphibalanus reticulatus is an acorn barnacle in the family Balanidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Amphibalanus reticulatus (Utinomi, 1967). Published sources characterize its origin status as Introduced. Published Kauaʻi eviden
Ampithoe ramondi
Ampithoe ramondi
Ampithoe ramondi is an amphipod crustacean in the family Ampithoidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Ampithoe ramondi Audouin, 1826. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Nawiliwili reef (Marriott Hotel reef). The ci
Ampithoe waialua
Ampithoe waialua
Ampithoe waialua is an amphipod crustacean in the family Ampithoidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Ampithoe waialua J.L. Barnard, 1970. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Nawiliwili reef (Marriott Hotel reef). T
Anamixis moana
Anamixis moana
Anamixis moana is an amphipod crustacean in the family Leucothoidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Anamixis moana Thomas, 1997. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Nawiliwili reef (Marriott Hotel reef), Port Allen
Anchiphiloscia pilosa
Anchiphiloscia pilosa
Anchiphiloscia pilosa is an isopod crustacean in the family Philosciidae. Published sources characterize its origin status as adventive. Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Kauaʻi. The cited evidence includes records dated
Apolochus menehune
Apolochus menehune
Apolochus menehune is an amphipod crustacean in the family Amphilochidae. Its current scientific name is cited as Apolochus menehune (J. L. Barnard, 1970). Published Kauaʻi evidence documents the species from Nawiliwili reef (Marriott Hotel
