A rare species of skink, the giant Tongan ground skink, has been rumored to have special powers by native Tongans. The lizard, endemic to the Tongan Islands of the South Pacific, was first documented to science between the years of 1826 and 1829 by two French scientists, Quoy and Gaimard. The only two specimens collected are now housed in the Paris Natural History Museum. Despite being listed as extinct by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, a new paper authored by scientists Ineich and Bohme suggests that the giant skink may still be living in remote areas of Southern Tonga, specifically in the ‘Eua National Park.
The original specimens of the giant skink were found on Tongatapu Island, but deforestation and the introduction of invasive species likely caused their extinction on the island. British naturalist John Gibbons offered a reward in 1986 for anyone who could find or photograph the elusive skink, but no results were produced. Unfortunately, Gibbons and his family died in a boating accident before he could resume his search. The remaining forest area of Tongatapu, comprising only 3% of the island, was surveyed in 1993, also with no success in finding the skink.
Hope remains for the existence of the giant Tongan ground skink, as another species of skink, Bocourt’s Terrific Skink, was rediscovered after being thought to be extinct. The grey ghost skink is believed to be stealthy and difficult to find, possibly living underground and only being active at night or after heavy rains. This aligns with Tongan folklore that describes sightings of the skink as rare and portentous. The authors of the new paper suggest that the elusive skink may still exist in peripheral islets or on the large island of ‘Eua, which retains some primary forest.
While the authors believe it is unlikely for the giant skink to survive on the compromised island of Tongatapu, they remain optimistic about its existence on other islands of Tonga. The ‘Eua National Park is suggested as a potential location for the skink to still exist, as it hosts the last remaining rainforest in the area. Researchers are hopeful for the discovery of the giant Tongan ground skink, similar to the rediscovery of the Bocourt’s Terrific Skink in New Caledonia in the early 2000s. Time will tell whether the elusive skink still roams the islands of Tonga, as efforts continue to search for the mysterious creature.
