Threats
Overexploitation of Biological Resources
These skinks live on trees most of their lives, but these forests are degrading due to various reasons such as logging. Habitat loss also makes them more susceptible to poaching.
Scientific Name
Corucia zebrata
Other Common Name(s)
Prehensile-tailed skink, Solomon Island Skink, Solomon Islands Giant Skink, Solomon Island Monkey-tailed Skink
Body Weight
Up to 1 kg
Body Length
Up to 81 cm
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Leaves, fruits and flowers
Fun Facts
These skinks cannot shed their tails to escape from danger. Their tails are prehensile, which means they are adapted to grasp on things like tree branches, allowing them to stay on trees for a long time.
Unlike most reptiles, these skinks do not lay eggs and give birth to live youngs instead. They are also one of the few lizard species that are social. The parents will protect the babies within the same social circle.
Newborns will ingest the faeces of their parents to obtain the gut flora that helps with digestion.
Distribution
Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea which are located at Southwestern Pacific Ocean
Threats & Conservation
Threats & Conservation
Overexploitation of Biological Resources
These skinks live on trees most of their lives, but these forests are degrading due to various reasons such as logging. Habitat loss also makes them more susceptible to poaching.
IUCN Red List
Near Threatened
CITES
Appendix II
Conservation Regulations
Protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.
