Prehensile Tailed Skink

Corucia zabrata

Prehensile-tailed skinks earn their name for their prehensile tail which has further advanced their survival by helping them grab onto branches so that they can maintain balance while climbing trees. They are native to only the Solomon Islands, which are a group of islands off the northeast of Australia. What makes these skinks unique compared to other lizards is that they go against everything we believe to know about lizards. When we think of reptiles and lizards, we often think of them laying a large clutch of eggs and sitting on them like birds, but the prehensile-tailed skink technically has live birth to one individual because the egg will hatch within their mother and then she will give birth to her baby (multiples are possible but are very rare). Similarly, when we think of reptiles raising their young, we often think about how many other reptiles will leave their young before they have even hatched (like sea turtles), but the prehensile-tailed skink will stay with their young for up to six months after they hatch to help raise them and what makes this even better is that the father will stay and help raise their young alongside the mother as one big family (reptiles have a reputation of being solitary animals). Also, they are the only species of skink known to be entirely herbivorous (many skinks are considered omnivores). Skinks all have a similar look to them which includes, a flatter head, a short if not visible neck, a more tubular body, and shorter legs compared to other lizards that may vary in size and are shaped based on their specific species.  

Our Current Residents

Gizmo, Male – Born on December 10th, 2020

Gizmo came to the zoo in August of 2021 from Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois. Gizmo is located inside and normally up in his branches and or on the ground, but if you cannot find him, he might have wedged himself between the back wall and his side perches and you may have to move around to find him.

You can get to know Gizmo better and meet them in person through our programs scheduled through the education department!

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Order: Squamata
• Family: Scincidae
• Genus: Corucia
• Species: Corucia zebrata

Animal Facts

Herbivores: mainly eat leaves, fruits, and flowers

Population Status: currently listed as Near Threatened

Habitat: rainforests, tall trees

Activity: nocturnal- mostly active during the night