
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Corucia zebrata
The largest extant skink, reaching 80 cm. Its long prehensile tail gives it both its Japanese and English names. It grips branches with sharply hooked claws and is, unusually for a skink, fully arboreal, nocturnal and herbivorous.
The monkey-tailed skink (Corucia zebrata) is a skink endemic to the Solomon Islands and the sole member of its genus. Reaching 80 cm, it is the largest living skink. The head is large with a rounded snout, and because it eats tough plant material it has rows of fine sharp teeth and powerful jaws. The digits are long and the claws sharply hooked for gripping branches, and the long prehensile tail gives the animal both its Japanese and English names. It lives in forest, is fully arboreal and nocturnal, and rests by day in tree hollows. Unusually for a skink it is entirely herbivorous, eating leaves, especially of aroids, and fruit. It is viviparous: after a gestation of six to eight months the female produces one or two young, which she protects for a time. The species forms family-based social groups and both sexes are territorial and hostile to animals outside the group. Logging, hunting for food and export for the pet trade have reduced wild populations.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Monkey-Tailed Skink lives 15-25 years.
The Monkey-Tailed Skink grows to 80cm total length.
Origin
Endemic to the Solomon Islands, with the subspecies alfredschmidti on Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, in tropical forest
Lifespan
15-25 years
Size
80cm total length
Sources: Reptile Database: Corucia zebrata / Wikipedia (Japanese) / Reptiles Magazine: Breeding Prehensile-Tailed Skinks
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Accepted name: Corucia zebrata Gray, 1855
Authority databases: GBIF · Reptile Database
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Listed in CITES Appendix II, effective 11 June 1992. As an Appendix II species, special international registration is not required. IUCN Red List assessment: Near Threatened (NT). Exports from the Solomon Islands are restricted. It is not designated as a Special Animal under the Animal Welfare and Management Act nor as a Designated Invasive Species.
Sources: CITES Species+ (Corucia zebrata, Appendix II, effective 11 June 1992) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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Temperature
25〜32℃
Humidity
40〜70%
Herbivorous: leaves, especially of aroids, and fruit
It is very intolerant of cold. In winter use a non-light-emitting heat source at night or heat the whole room the enclosure stands in. As a nocturnal animal of tropical forest the priority is to avoid letting it get cold.
Large and fully arboreal, it needs a big, tall enclosure; keepers sometimes repurpose bird or mammal cages or plant greenhouses for large animals. Build activity space and hides from branches, driftwood and living plants, fixing branches firmly because the animal is strong. A nest box can serve as a hide. Choose a water container broad enough to submerge in and heavy enough not to be tipped over.
Entirely herbivorous, feeding in the wild on leaves, especially of aroids, and fruit. In captivity offer vegetables and fruit; animals also take commercial diets for herbivorous reptiles, and there are records of individuals eating crickets. For animals that feed poorly or are out of condition, vegetables and fruit are sometimes blended and offered as a purée.
Usually slow-moving but capable of sudden bursts of speed. In threat it gapes and vocalises, and bites if the intruder does not back off. Its teeth and claws can cause unexpected injury, so handle it with leather gloves rather than bare hands. Males and females that have just given birth are especially short-tempered. It forms family groups and is hostile to animals from outside them.
Listed on CITES Appendix II since 11 June 1992; being Appendix II it needs no Japanese registration certificate. Export from the Solomon Islands is now restricted. The IUCN assesses it as Near Threatened, with logging, hunting for food and pet-trade exports cited as threats. It does not appear on the schedule of designated dangerous animals under the Order for Enforcement of the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals. At 80 cm it is a large animal, and keeping one for life requires large housing and a long-term feeding plan.
Advanced. This is an advanced-level species. It requires specialized equipment and advanced husbandry skills with precise environmental control.
The average lifespan of Monkey-Tailed Skink is 15-25 years. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.
Monkey-Tailed Skink typically reaches 80cm total length as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Monkey-Tailed Skink feeds on: Herbivorous: leaves, especially of aroids, and fruit. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Monkey-Tailed Skink varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 17, 2026