The Solomon Islands skink (Corucia zebrata), also known as prehensile-tailed skink, monkey-tailed skink, giant skink, zebra skink, and monkey skink, is an arboreal species of skink endemic to the Solomon Islands archipelago. It is the largest known extant species of 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 or circulus. Both male and female specimens are known to be territorial and often hostile towards members not a part of their family group.
Corucia is a monotypic genus, containing a single species. However, in 1997 it was determined that there are two subspecies of the Solomon Islands skink: the common monkey-tailed skink (Corucia zebrata zebrata) and the northern monkey-tailed skink (Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti). Among other variances, the northern skink is smaller and has darker eyes with a black sclera.
Extensive logging is a serious threat to the survival of this species. Consumption for food by indigenous Solomon Islanders and excessive pet trade exports have affected wild populations. Export of this species from the Solomon Islands is now restricted and the animal is protected under CITES appendix II.
^Hagen, I.J.; Harlow, P.; Allison, A. [in French]; Hamilton, A.; Tallowin, O. (2021). "Corucia zebrata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T196593A2463961. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
^Gray, J.E. (1856). "New Genus of Fish-scaled Lizards (Scissosaræ), from New Guinea". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Second Series18: 345–346. (Corucia, new genus, p. 346; Corucia zebrata, new species, p. 346).
and 28 Related for: Solomon Islands skink information
The SolomonIslandsskink (Corucia zebrata), also known as prehensile-tailed skink, monkey-tailed skink, giant skink, zebra skink, and monkey skink, is...
the SolomonIslandsskink (Corucia zebrata) is the largest known extant species and may attain a snout-to-vent length of some 35 cm (14 in). Skinks can...
tropical ocean waters surrounding most of the SolomonIslands archipelago (excluding the Santa Cruz Islands, which is a part of the Vanuatu marine ecoregion...
Tetepare Island is an island in Western Province, in the independent nation of SolomonIslands. It is the largest uninhabited island in the South Pacific...
sensu stricto, and similar behaviour is also known in the related SolomonIslandsskink (Corucia zebrata). The latter means that the high intelligence and...
Papua New Guinea) and the SolomonIslands northward into the Marianas, Carolines, and Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Vanuatu, and Guam. It has...
spiny skink or Poncelet's helmet skink (Tribolonotus ponceleti) is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Solomon Islands...
Pancake tortoise Emerald tree boa Dwarf caiman Reticulated python SolomonIslandsskink Mossy frog Komodo Dragon The North American exhibit is full of several...
Schmidt's emo skink or Schmidt's skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the SolomonIslands. The specific name...
Greer's islandskink or Solomon minute skink (Geomyersia glabra) is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. It is found in the SolomonIslands. Harlow...
Indo-Australian archipelago and down south to the Solomon and Santa Cruz islands. The emerald tree skink is frequently found in palm plantations in disturbed...
cyanura, the copper-tailed skink, is a species of skink. It is found in Borneo, Clipperton Island and other South Pacific islands. It is known as kagisi in...
as Crane’s skink and Crane's forest skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the SolomonIslands. The specific...
skink (Ornithuroscincus noctua) is a species of skink. It is found in Pacific regions including Sulawesi, Northern Papua New Guinea, SolomonIslands,...
Sphenomorphus solomonis is a species of skink found in the Admiralty Islands, the northern Moluccas, the SolomonIslands, New Guinea, and the Bismarck archipelago...
known as crocodile skinks. Species in the genus Tribolonotus are found in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the SolomonIslands. The genus includes...
Certain skinks; the SolomonIslandsskink is exclusively herbivorous. King's skink is also primarily a herbivore. The extinct Cape Verde giant skink was herbivorous...
Sphenomorphus bignelli is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the SolomonIslands. The specific name, bignelli, is...