Prehensile-tailed+Skink

toc //Corucia zebrata// Order: Squamata =**__Husbandry Information__**=

Housing Requirements

 * This species required plenty of vertical space with a variety of climbing opportunities.
 * A water bowl large enough for the lizard to soak and defecate in is required.

Diet Requirements

 * In the wild, this herbivorous species eats a variety of plants.
 * In captivity, they are fed a salad.

Veterinary Concerns

 * Prone to retained shed on toes, corners of mouth and around eyes. We soak our skink regularly to help remove shed.

Notes on Enrichment & Training

 * Pothos spp. (a common houseplant), is a wild food source of the Prehensile-tailed skink. While toxic to other animals, we offer pothos leaves as food enrichment to our skink (Zoo New England).
 * Our skink (Baton Rouge Zoo) is trained to climb out of his enclosure onto the handler's gloved hand. We use a pothos leaf as a reward.
 * Shedd: Our skink is territorial inside of her enclosure but we've had success training her to take food via tongs and then guiding her out onto a branch to remove her from the enclosure. Her favorite reinforcers include: cucumber, zucchini, kiwi & the occasional superworm.

=__Programmatic Information__=

Tips on Presentation

 * This species likes to climb so using a branch or perch helps to demonstrate its abilities.
 * Shedd: For encounters we transport ours using a mesh bird carrier (PetPocket brand), with branches inside. Once at the encounter space we take her out and display her on a branch. Though she is territorial inside of her enclosure, she is normally not territorial or aggressive when removing her from her transport

Tips on Handling

 * Prehensile-tailed skinks have very sharp claws, and surprisingly strong grips. Full/elbow-length gloves are recommended for handling.
 * The skink has a tendency to want to be up high so positioning your hands so that it can continually climb up will keep the handler safe and the lizard occupied.

Potential Messaging
> of tropical wood imported into the United States comes from South America, particularly the Amazon Rainforest. Flooring, musical instruments, picture frames and other products > made of rosewood should be particularly avoided to slow deforestation on Madagascar and to avoid the extinctionof endangered or vulnerable rosewood tree species from forests all around the equator. Ask guests to consider used or vintage furniture or new furniture made > of wood that has been reclaimed from old structures. There are many > alternatives to conventional lumber including flooring and other products made > from fast-growing bamboo, and decking made of recycled plastic formed to look > like wooden boards. [][]
 * Endemic island species are often under threat from introduced species.
 * Rainforest destruction/habitat loss. One of the best ways for people to help the rainforest is to reduce their use of tropical woods. Many rainforest trees are felled each year for lumber,furniture, and other products that end up in countries all over the world. Much
 * The capture of wild animals for the pet trade, and what we can do to prevent/discourage it. In general, animals seen at the zoo do not make good pets. Most have specialized dietary, veterinary, housing, and social needs that are difficult or impossible for even dedicated pet owners to meet. Always ensure that your future pet has not been taken from the wild. Capture of wild animals for the pet trade has significantly damaged the survival prospects of species such as sloths, tamanduas, and many parrots. Captured animals are typically mistreated by profit-motivated traffickers and dealers, resulting in many animal deaths; well-meaning animal lovers may feel like they are rescuing animals by purchasing them but are really perpetuating the cruelty. In addition, many exotic pets are released by their owners when they become too dangerous or demanding, often with devastating effects on local ecosystems. Animals that should never be kept as pets include all bats, primates, and exotic carnivores. Birds, fish, and reptiles have specialized needs, are frequently wild-caught, and damage the local environment if released; guests should be advised to educate themselves and proceed with caution. Domestic dogs and cats are almost always the best option! Many deserving animals are available for adoption at animal shelters. [] []

=__Acquisition Information__=

=__Comments from the Rating System__=
 * Maryland Zoo in Baltimore: Handled on a stick; can become aggressive.
 * Zoo New England, Stone Zoo: Prehensile-tailed skinks do have more sensitive temperature and humidity requirements than some other reptiles, and "new" individuals to handling require some work to train. Additionally, their claws are very sharp.

=__Natural History Information__=

Range and Habitat
This skink is native to the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. It lives in tropical rainforests. Preferred daytime temperature ranges between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and 70-75 degrees at night.

Physical Description
Prehensile-tailed skinks have large, flat heads, wedge-shaped and short snouts, and small eyes. Males have wider heads than females. The slender tail is prehensile, and is used as an extra appendage. It will not break off. Skin color ranges from dark green to near black, and there are lighter and darker flecks found dorsally. The skin is smoother and shinier than any other lizard because the scales are smooth, flat, and overlapping. Their short tongue enables them to sustain a rich arboreal life. Their long claws have razor sharp hooks, enabling the skink to cling to the trees. Prehensile-tailed skinks grow to up to 32 inches in length. Half of the body length is the long tail. Adults weigh 14 to 28 ounces.

Life Cycle
A female prehensile-tailed skink will give birth to a single large young after a relatively long gestation period of 6 to 7 months. Occasionally the skinks have twins. Young skinks will stay in close association with their parents even though the parent does not directly protect the babies. The mere presence of the adult skink will deter some predators which prey on the young. That said, the young skink is able to live independently and they can forage for their own food at a very young age. These skinks can live about 15 years.

Behavior
Prehensile-tailed skinks are nocturnal or crepscular, shy and secretive. They seldom stray far from their shelter, which is usually a tree hollow. They are an arboreal species, and will hang suspended from branches. They adapt well to captivity, although it may be difficult to breed them.

Threats and Conservation Status
This species is listed as CITES II, but is not currently listed by IUCN. Extensive logging is the major threat to its survival.

=__Did you know…__= This is the largest species of skink and the only one with a fully prehensile tail.

=__Photographs__=

=__Contributors and Citations__=
 * The Philadelphia Zoo
 * Nancy Romanik, Education Program Manager - Zoo New England, Stone Zoo
 * Baton Rouge Zoo
 * Houston Zoo, Natural Encounter
 * Shedd Aquarium