The Solomon Islands skink (Corucia zebrata) is an arboreal species of skink living only in the Solomon Islands. It is the largest known species of skink and adults may attain a snout-to-vent length of some 35 cm (13 to 14 in.) and tail of additional 13 in. in length. Other common names for this speces include the prehensile-tailed skink, monkey-tailed skink, giant skink, zebra skink, and monkey skink.
The Solomon Islands skink is completely herbivorous, eating many different fruits and vegetables including the pothos plant. It is one of the few species of reptile known to function within a social group. Both male and female specimens are known to be territorial and often hostile towards members not a part of their family group.
Extensive logging is a serious threat to the survival of this species. Consumption for food by indigenous Solomon Islanders and excessive pet trade exports has affected wild populations. Export of this species from the Solomon Islands is now restricted and the animal is protected under CITES appendix II.
What Are Solomon Islands Skinks?
Corucia is evolutionarily distinct and diverged from its nearest relatives about 30 million years ago. Little is known about its life history, basic ecology, or behavior in the wild.
They are arboreal lizards with powerful feet and a prehensile tail...
Rather than laying eggs usually only one baby is born live with a placenta attached to the mother...
A skink mother with two year old twins and her new baby. They stay together as a family group along with the father...
They are nocturnal ...
Solomon Islands skinks are herbivores, feeding on the leaves, flowers, fruit, and growing shoots of several different species of plants
This website hopes to introduce the Solomon Islands Skink and provide information for those thinking of keeping them and want to work together to save them.
Unfortunally, they are very rare now.
In 1992 Corucia zebrata was listed as a CITES Appendix II animal. For more info on CITES:
http://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.php
Contact me at: linda@lsnye.com
All photos and videos, © 2014-2021 Linda S. Nye