An Indigenous perspective on the conservation of an insular endemic: the prehensile -tailed skink Corucia zebrata on the Solomon Islands

The prehensile-tailed skink Corucia zebrata is endemic to the Solomon Islands. It is the most traded reptile from the country. During 200o-2019, CITES reported the legal export of 10,567 individuals. Although the level of this trade is well documented, impacts on the skink's survival in its native range are comparatively unknown. During January May 2020, we surveyed 146 people on 12 islands to collect information on the habitats preferred by the prehensile-tailed skink, to understand perceptions of the species' conservation status and identify any potential threats. Respondents reported lowland and hill forests as being favoured habitats, with low proportions of respondents identifying coastal and montane forests as suitable habitat. Habitat loss (72%), hunting (17%), and predation (6%) were identified as the main threats. People younger than 3o years of age reported killing the skinks more frequently than did people over the age of 30. Prehensile -tailed skinks have a relatively small home range, long reproductive cycle, and are vulnerable to numerous threats. We thus recommend a halt to the current practice of exporting wild-caught prehensile-tailed skinks, and replacement by a well -regulated captive breeding programme.

Automated summary

The prehensile-tailed skink is an endemic species in the Solomon Islands, and it is the most traded reptile from the country. The study revealed that habitat loss, hunting, and predation were identified as the main threats to its survival. To ensure its conservation, the recommendation is to stop the export of wild-caught prehensile-tailed skinks and implement a regulated captive breeding program.