Kishinoue's giant skink (Plestiodon kishinouyei), also known as the Japanese skink, is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae, endemic to the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan.
The species name is a tribute to Japanese fisheries biologist Kamakichi Kishinouye (岸丠éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ, 1867âÂÂ1929).
Plestiodon kishinouyei is about 30âÂÂ40 cm in total length (including tail), with a snout to vent length of 14.0âÂÂ17.2 cm. It is the largest member of its widely distributed, speciose genus, and thus appears to be an example of island gigantism.