Looked like this had previously dropped its tail and the the new one grew back in a slightly different place.
Potential invasive species at this location??
It was about a 30cm long female which I found while flipping rocks. It was pretty funny because she was smart and made her den right next to a knight anoles den so she could grab fast food. It was difficult to identify at first because it was a hatchling but it was 100% a Trope bcs of how it contracted its muscles and curled itself like a harmless, intimidated snake did, while crawling on my arm. And the many heat pits along it’s upper jaw
Noted in leaf litter. Feet undersides black, belly pinkish grey (unusually coloured for this species), throat white with black flecks. One of the three more common skinks on Kapiti Island.
Species identified by Dr Rod Hitchmough, Science & Policy, Department of Conservation.