Azure-tailed Skink

Names and classification

Scientific name

Emoia impar

Common names

Azure-tailed Skink

Family

Scincidae

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence

Historic

Origin

Introduced

Conservation status

Not assessed (Kauaʻi population extirpated)

Evidence limits

Current source set supports extirpation; any future verified detection would require reassessment.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats

Historical terrestrial habitats including Nāpali-area records; no current Kauaʻi population.

Food and resource needs

Mostly arthropods and other small animal prey; some species also use nectar, fruit, or small vertebrates.

Reproduction

Species-appropriate egg-laying sites or live-bearing conditions; stable microclimate.

Shelter

Bark, foliage, rock, litter, crevices, walls, or woody debris depending on species.

Threats and conservation

Threats

Extirpated on Kauaʻi; historical decline is important for understanding faunal turnover and invasive-species interactions.

Conservation actions

Early detection, containment/control where feasible, prevent intentional release or transport, protect high-value native habitats, and monitor ecological effects.

Monitoring

Maintain historical record; monitor only if re-detected.

Data gaps

Historical distribution and causal drivers of extirpation remain only partly resolved.

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing

Generally year-round in Hawaiʻi; local activity varies with temperature and moisture

Seasonal description

Azure-tailed Skink (Emoia impar) had a documented historical Kauaʻi population that is now considered extirpated.

Sources and further reading

• USGS / Oryx — Cryptic extinction of a common Pacific lizard, Emoia impar, from the Hawaiian Islands