Most species occur in the region of New Caledonia-New Zealand, and they are related to other genera from that general area, such as Emoia; these and others form the Eugongylus group.

One living and two extinct taxa represent a clade endemic to the Mascarenes.

(Austin & Arnold 2006) Example species The Mauritian giant skink (Leiolopisma mauritiana) and the Réunion giant skink (Leiolopisma ceciliae) were closely related.

David Day (1979), in Vanished Species, described the Reunion giant skink as small and fast moving but completely unafraid of humans.

The Reunion giant skink was reported to be completely insectivorous.