Solomon Islands skink

Wickelskink ( Corucia zebrata )

The Wickelskink ( Corucia zebrata ), also called winding -tailed skink, has an overall length of up to 75 centimeters. With a head-body length of 35 centimeters, it is the largest skink in the world. He lives in the Solomon Islands Bougainville, Choiseul, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, Nggela Sule, Guadalcanal, Malaita, Makira, Ugi ni Masi, Owa Raha and the Shortland Islands. Wickelskinke are arboreal and inhabit both coastal rainforest and mountain forests at altitudes up to 1000 meters.

The animals are gray green to light olive green. The back is patterned with light and dark spots or stripes, whence the specific epithet derives zebrata. The German name allude to the strong prehensile tail that is strong enough that the lizards can hold on him alone. There are two subspecies:

• Corucia zebrata alfredschmidti KOHLER, 1997
• Corucia zebrata zebrata GRAY 1855

Way of life

Prehensile-tailed skinks are lazy and spend the day sleeping in the trees. At night they eat and to go on the ground. They eat among other things, the leaves of the Pothos and pepper. Prehensile-tailed skinks are viviparous and give birth after a gestation period of 6 months to two cubs world. These are 29 to 33 inches long at birth, with a head-body length of 14-16 centimeters. Birth weight is 100 to 120 grams.