Mabuya mabouya

Description

Mabuya mabouya is a species of skink found on certain islands in the Caribbean. It has shiny, bronze-colored skin, with a pair of light stripes that run along its upper flanks. It was previously thought to be widespread throughout the Neotropics, but a taxonomic revision in 2005 established it as endemic to the Lesser Antilles. It is common only on Dominica, where it is widespread in coastal regions and can also be found in cultivated areas at high elevations. It also remains present, though very rare, on Grenada, Guadeloupe and Saint Lucia. Populations on Martinique and Barbados are believed to be extinct. It has been confused with M. bistriata, and so many accounts have attributed M. mabouya populations to M. bistriata. Their relationship is still unclear. On Dominica, it can be confused with Gymnophthalmus pleei or juvenile Ameiva fuscata due to their similar appearance.