# Solomon Islands Skink (*Corucia zebrata*) The Solomon Islands Skink is a big, friendly lizard that loves to climb trees. It has smooth, shiny scales and a long tail that helps it balance while it explores its home in the forest. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Solomon Islands Skink](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Corucia_zebrata_%282%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: TimVickers, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corucia_zebrata_%282%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Solomon Islands Skink is a large, sturdy lizard with distinctive rough, keeled scales that give it a bumpy texture. Its body is typically bright green to olive, often mottled with darker green or black patches, while its belly is a pale cream or yellow. It possesses a long, muscular prehensile tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Scincidae - **Genus:** Corucia ## Interesting facts - Baby skinks are born huge, sometimes over a third of their mother's body length! - Solomon Islands Skinks are one of the few reptiles known to form small family groups! - These skinks have special bumpy scales that help them blend in perfectly with tree bark! - They are the largest skink in the world, growing to be longer than a human arm! ## Special abilities - **Live Birth:** Solomon Islands Skink can give live birth to a single, well-developed baby, ensuring it has a strong start. - **Specialized Teeth:** Solomon Islands Skink has unique multi-cusped teeth that help them efficiently grind down tough plant material. - **Nocturnal Navigator:** Solomon Islands Skink has excellent nocturnal vision that helps them navigate and forage for food in the dark. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-85 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-25 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h ## Diet & Feeding This large skink is a herbivore, munching on leaves, fruits, and flowers high in the trees. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Fruits, Flowers, Shoots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Solomon Islands Boa (*Candoia carinata*) — Juvenile skinks can be preyed upon by native snakes in the canopy. - **Eaten by:** Sanford's Sea-eagle (*Haliaeetus sanfordi*) — Younger skinks can be snatched by large birds of prey. - **Depends on:** Wild Fig Tree (*Ficus septica*) — Relies on rainforest trees for food, shelter, and cover. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't try to touch wild skinks. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Solomon Islands Skink? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Solomon Islands Skink? 60-85 cm ### How much does Solomon Islands Skink weigh? 0.5-1.5 kg ### How long does Solomon Islands Skink live? 10-25 years ### How fast can Solomon Islands Skink move? 8 km/h ### What does Solomon Islands Skink eat? This large skink is a herbivore, munching on leaves, fruits, and flowers high in the trees. ### Where is Solomon Islands Skink usually found? Forests ### How does Solomon Islands Skink hunt? Foraging ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Solomon Islands Skink: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/solomon-islands-skink)