Classification: Introduced Species

Description: The adult emoia impar grows longer than 8 inches. It has a brownish-gray to dark gray base coloration with 3 copper lines running from its snout to its upper tail on its back. The entire length of its body is covered in shiny smooth scales. The underbelly is dark gray. The limbs have long clawed fingers and toes. The front limbs are short while the hind limbs are almost double its length. The tail is longer than its body and distinctively colored blue.

Habitat: It can be found in primary and secondary forest habitats, forest edges and rural gardens. It is found in more open areas where there is no interspecific competition with other Emoia.

Range: It is also a naturalized species in the Hawaiian Islands, most likely introduced by the Polynesians, but has been almost entirely extirpated from there, possibly as a result of the invasive big-headed ant. It disappeared from most islands by the early 20th century, persisting on the Na Pali Coast of Kaua'i until the 1960s. Alleged sightings on Kaua'i up to the 1990s were found to have been an introduced population of E. cyanura that was introduced in the 1970s and persisted for up to 2 decades. While some studies have claimed that it has been entirely extirpated from Hawaii, it actually still persists on the offshore islet of Mokapu, Molokai, where it has a stable population. It was seen on the big island of Hawaii, in the Kalapana area, in September, 2021. Although some sources claim E. impar to be a native species to Hawaii based on the presence of a single fossil bone, analysis of the sediments the bone was found in indicates it to have a comparatively recent origin.

Found in these States: HI

Diet: It is insectivorous

Reproduction: It is oviparous.

Status: This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large overall population, adaptability, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Taxonomy: