Prehensile Tailed Skink
Status in the wild:
Endangered
Range:
These reptiles are native to the Solomon Islands.
Reproduction:
Unlike most lizards, this species doesn't lay eggs, but gives birth to live young. The babies are huge in comparison to the adult. When born, a prehensile-tailed skink is about 1/2 the size of the adult (approx. 2 feet) and 1/6th of its adult weight of 600 grams. That's a big baby.
General:
Their grasping tail helps them climb trees in search of leaves and fruit.