Rotuma, the northern-most Fijian island, reportedly has two resident species of treeskinks of the Emoia samoensis species group. One species is a member of the Emoia concolor species subgroup and was last reported from Rotuma in the 1890s. The other species is a member of the Emoia samoensis subgroup. Members of the latter subgroup are robust-bodied skinks in contrast to the more slender-bodied concolor. The abundant treeskink on Rotuma is more slender-bodied than other samoensis subgroup members but clearly belongs to this subgroup. It possesses other differences, particularly in scalation, that demonstrate its differentiation and speciation in the remote and isolated Rotuma Islands. It is recognized herein as a new species Emoia oriva. A key to the members of the Emoia samoensis species group provides a current summary of phenetic relationships in this group although on-going studies suggest at least a half-dozen species remain undescribed in the samoensis species group.