Description: Lipinia noctua is a small skink measuring up to 45 mm SVL. It is distinguished by the presence of a yellow spot on the top of the head which may merge with a light dorsal stripe. There are often two lighter dorsolateral stripes on a brown to light brown ground color. In the Mariana Islands it is most similar to the snake-eyed skink but it has moveable eyelids.
Biology: The moth skink is a small arboreal skink that feeds primarily on ants. It is a forest dwelling species that is often associated with Pandanus and large diameter trees with grown with epiphytes. Unlike any other reptile in the region, L. noctua gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs. Both the tail and the digits can be broken off to evade predators.
Range: The moth skink is widely distributed throughout the pacific region and New Guinea. In the Mariana Islands it is only known to occur on Guam though there are a couple of unverified sighting from Rota (Rodda et al. 1991). On Guam it is known from along the northeast coast, the Naval Ordinance Annex, and a few other areas (Rodda and Fritts 1996) With the exception of the Ordinance Annex, where it is relatively common, Lipinia noctua is difficult to observe.
Rodda G. H., T.H. Fritts and J. D. Reichel. 1991. The distributional Patterns of reptiles and amphibians in the Mariana Islands. Micronesica 24(2) 195-210
Rodda G. H. and T. Fritts. 1996. Reptiles of the Ordinance Annex, Naval Activities Guam. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Honolulu HI.