Islands are a topsy-turvy world,
where evolution seems to follow a different set of rules.
North of New Caledonia lies the Solomon Islands archipelago,
a scattering of a thousand tropical islands.
For the select few animals that arrived here,
these were brave new worlds, filled with possibilities.
And to make the most of what they found here,
some adopted a whole new way of life.
Among the successful colonists were skinks
- lizards that are usually small with short legs.
Quite a variety live here in the Solomons,
but there is one in these forests that's unlike any other skink on the planet.
The monkey-tailed skink is up to 50 times heavier than your average skink,
and is the world's largest.
Most skinks spend their lives on the ground, but not this monster.
This is the only skink to possess a prehensile tail
and unlike nearly all other skinks which dine on insects,
this gentle giant is entirely vegetarian.