Prehensile-tailed Skink

MONKEY TAIL
Being the largest skink in the world, these broad-headed and cylindrical lizards are tree dwellers. Their green scales, long claws and muscular tail aid in climbing in the canopies of the rainforests of the Solomon Islands.

This slow-moving but excellent tree-dweller is also known as a monkey-tailed skink.

Prehensile-tailed skinks are built for climbing and reaching their favorite food of leaves. They are crepuscular, which means that they are most active during the early morning and late evening hours.

These are one of the few social lizards that have family groups and will defend their babies and territory against members of another group. The mothers care for their young for six months. After this time, the young may move on to create their own family group, or stay with their parents for a few more years.