Was it premature to declare the giant Tongan Ground Skink Tachygyia microlepis extinct?

This article explores the possibility that the Tongan Ground Skink, believed to be extinct, may still exist in Tonga. The skink is only known through two specimens held in a museum in Paris. The authors suggest that the skink may survive on less degraded islands and propose using information on similar lizards from the Caribbean to define potential habitats. The article provides historical information about the collection of the specimens and describes the current state of Tongatapu Island. It also discusses the nomenclatural history of the skink and its relationship to other lizard species. The text emphasizes the importance of not prematurely declaring a species extinct and highlights the need for local involvement in conservation decisions. The document includes acknowledgments, references, and correspondence related to the scientific manuscript. [Extracted from the article]