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Reptilia    Squamata (part-other lizards)    Scincidae  
Copper-tailed Skink
Emoia cyanura (Lesson, 1830)
ee-MOY-ah — SIGH-ah-NOO-rah
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SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
 Native to the Pacific islands. It was established on Kaua’i, Hawai'i, but may now be extirpated there (Fisher and Ineich, 2012, Oryx 46: 187–195). (Krysko, Kenneth and Travis W. Taggart. 2025. Established Exotic Species. Pages 64-87 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)

(,   Museum Voucher) (,   Observation) (,   Literature Record), (,   Citizen Science), (  Fossil)
Open icons indicate questionable records, including those with coordinate uncertainty greater than 10,000 m (approximately 6 miles). Click a marker to view metadata.
Occurrences:; 92 Total; 92 Museum; 0 Other

The locality database contains 8,248,810 records, and geographic and taxonomic errors exist. Logged-in, registered users may report a potential issue directly from the marker popup.
Shaded range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH. (Version: 2024.07.03.10.12.36)
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Polygon Range File Museum Literature Fossil Personal Observation Citizen Science

Province/State Distribution:
United States: Hawaii

Taxonomic Etymology:
A skink with a vivid blue tail.
Emoia — Named by Gray in 1845; the etymology is unclear but may derive from a personal or locality name, possibly linked to Pacific island groups. It may be an arbitrary combination coined by the author.
cyanura — From Greek kyanos (κυανός), “blue,” and oura (οὐρά), “tail.” Refers to the bright blue coloration of the tail, especially in juveniles and younger adults.

First instance(s) of published English names:
No historic English names have been assigned to this taxon yet.


Selected References:
1830 Lesson, René Primevère. Description de quelques reptiles nouveaux ou peu connus. [Description of the new reptiles or two different ones.]. Pages in Page 1-65 in M. L. I. Duperrey, Voyage Autour du Monde Execute par Ordre du Roi, sur la Corvette de La Majeste, La Coquille, Pendant les Annees 1822, 1823, 1824 et 1825. 2. Zoologie Tome 2, Partie 1. [Voyage Around the World Executed by Order of the King, on the Corvette of La Majeste, La Coquille, During the Years 1822, 1823, 1824 and 1825. 2. Zoology Volume 2, Part 1.]. Arthur Bertrand, Paris, France. pp.
2012 Fisher, Robert and Ivan Ineich. Cryptic extinction of a common Pacific lizard Emoia impar (Squamata, Scincidae) from the Hawaiian Islands. Oryx 46(2):187–195

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