Cook Islands Biodiversity Database

Species Page

Back to: «« Search Page | « Results Page

Add to My List

Emoia cyanura

Mōtukutuku (MG)

Coastal Blue-tailed Skink

Multimedia & Additional Resources

Type	Description	Download
Image:	Adult and head closeup	88KB
Image:	Adult - stripe down back & head-spot	191KB
Image:	Adult on leaves, inset - close-up of head	98KB
Image:	Bronze-form from Pukapuka	86KB

General Information

COMMON NAMES: Coastal Blue-tailed Skink, White-bellied Skink, Azure-tailed Skink, Blue-tailed Skink [confusing]

TRADITIONAL NAMES: Mōtukutuku (MG), Moko Kākāra (MK), Moko (MT AK TS TW PK)

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Polynesian, Naturalised; S.Group - all islands; N.Group - all islands?; Land, coastal lowlands, coralline soils

Cook Islands Distribution

View Distribution Map

Southern Group: Present Makatea: Present
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
++++	+++	+++	P

Northern Group:
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
++++			++++

Key to Symbols

blank	no data
-	absent	L	localised
X	extinct 'naturally'	W	widespread
XQi	quarantine intercepted	R	recent
XQe	eradicated	?	query preceding category
P	present	T?	taxonomic query
S	seasonal	nn	present, said to have no name
O	occasional	?1	present, name not investigated
++++	very common	?2	presence not verified, no name recorded
+++	common	N/A	absent, name not expected
++	uncommon
+	rare
Cook Islands islands: RR =Rarotonga, MG = Mangaia, AT =‘Ātiu, MK=Ma‘uke, MT=Miti‘āro, AK=Aitutaki, PL=Palmerston, PN=Penrhyn, MN=Manuae, TK=Takūtea, TN=Tongareva (TS=Tongaleva Spoken, TW=Tongareva Written, they say "el" but write "r"), MH=Manihiki, RK=Rakahanga, PK=Pukapuka, NS=Nassau, SW=Suwarrow. After a Polynesian name: ^=orthography query. Countries and other: FIJ=Fiji, WT=Wallis & Futuna, SAM=Samoa, TON=Tonga, NIU=Niue, CK=Cook Islands, CKM=Cook Islands Māori, FP=French Polynesia, AUS=Australs, SOC=Societies, TAH=Tahiti, TUA=Tuamotus, MQS=Marquesas, MNG=Mangareva, PIT=Pitcain group, EAS=Easter Island, HAW=Hawai‘i, NZ=New Zealand, NZM=New Zealand Māori

Scientific Taxonomy

Emoia cyanura (Lesson, 1826)
SYNONYMS: Emoia pheonura; Scincus cyanurus; Lygosoma arundelii

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); TETRAPODA; REPTILIA; Squamata; Lacertilia; SCINCIDAE

Vouchers & References

Vouchers:
Pukapuka: TYPICAL-form specimens+photos, 2/2004, common inland and in swamplands, G.McCormack with ID as Emoi cyanura, to AuckMus LH2713-4, 2715-20, ID-confirmed B.Gill; BRONZE-form 2 specimens+photo, Motu Ko (seen on Kotawa, but NOT on Wale), 2/2004, G.McCormack, to AuckMus LH2711-2 and ID B.Gill as bronze Emoia cyanura based on absence on medial scale fusion and thighs ventrally whitish (rather than dark).

References:
None recorded.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02

Web Resources

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org.
Please refer to our use policy.

Biodiversity Database: More Options | Help

My List: View List | Edit List | Clear List