The Rainbow Skink, Lampropholis delicata, in Hawaii

Abstract

The rainbow skink, Lampropholis delicata, arrived in Hawaii as an accidental import from Australia sometime about 1900, but its true identity went unknown until recently. Previously, L. delicata in Hawaii had been identified as Lipinia noctua, Leiolopisma hawaiiensis, and Lygosoma metallicum (the latter apparently does not occur in Hawaii). Lampropholis delicata establishes high-altitude records for reptiles in Hawaii at 1130 and 1220 m elevation on the islands of Hawaii and Kauai, respectively. Variations in body size and numbers of eggs produced in populations on Hawaii, Kauai, and Oahu suggest that competition for space and food may be lowering reproductive capacity, and inhibiting growth in the relatively dense populations on Oahu.