Lamprolepis smaragdina
species of reptile, skink
Lamprolepis smaragdina, the emerald tree skink, is also sometimes (ambiguously) known as green tree skink or emerald green skink. It is a non-threatened species which is not commonly seen, but it is becoming more popular in the exotic pet trade.
Description
The emerald tree skink is generally bright lime green in color, with large black eyes rimmed with yellow. However, their rear limbs or the lower half of their body may be medium brown with white speckling. In some cases, the entire body is brown or speckled with black. They are generally between 8.5-10" in total length.
Names
It is known as 'kuka' in the Kotos Amarasi language of West Timor, Indonesia. In the Philippines, it is called 'tabili' in Cebuano and in Waray.
Evolutionary genetics
Linkem, et al. (2013) found that the most divergent clades of L. smaragdina were in Sulawesi.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Lamprolepis smaragdina” as species of reptile, skink. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as species of reptile, skink. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 25, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1816068. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 2013.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Lamprolepis smaragdina”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Lamprolepis smaragdina primary sources, Lamprolepis smaragdina archive and Lamprolepis research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Lamprolepis smaragdina”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Lamprolepis smaragdina” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.