Prehensile Tailed Skink

Status in the wild: Endangered

Born September 25, 2001

When born, a prehensile-tailed skink is 1/6th of its adult weight of 600 grams and 1/2 of its adult length of two feet. Unlike most lizards, this species doesn't lay eggs, but gives birth to live young. This is the second birth for the adult pair of skinks at the Zoo. These reptiles are native to the Solomon Islands. They use their tail to help them climb trees in search of leaves and fruit.