The lost lizards of Christmas Island: A retrospective assessment of factors driving the collapse of a native reptile community

Until recently, the reptile fauna of Christmas Island in Indian Ocean comprised five endemic species (two skinks, two geckos, and one snake) native, non-endemic skink. Four these were common widespread until at least 1979, but by 2012 had disappeared from wild. During years decline, little research was undertaken to examine why disappearing. Here, we use a retrospective expert elicitation rank potential factors that contributed loss Island's reptiles assess likelihood re-establishing populations now listed as Extinct Wild. We additionally considered lizard, giant gecko (Cyrtodactylus sadleiri), three introduced lizards remain common. Experts wolf snake (Lycodon capucinus) most likely cause its temporal spatial spread across island closely matched patterns lizard disappearances. An Asian co-occurrence recent evolutionary timeframes with marked point difference between extant lost species. The demise less than 20 80% native assemblage highlights vulnerability invading