| [00:00.00] |
Islands are a topsy-turvy world, |
| [00:02.90] |
where evolution seems to follow a different set of rules. |
| [00:06.23] |
North of New Caledonia lies the Solomon Islands archipelago, |
| [00:10.54] |
a scattering of a thousand tropical islands. |
| [00:13.61] |
For the select few animals that arrived here, |
| [00:16.80] |
these were brave new worlds, filled with possibilities. |
| [00:21.02] |
And to make the most of what they found here, |
| [00:23.47] |
some adopted a whole new way of life. |
| [00:26.35] |
Among the successful colonists were skinks |
| [00:30.12] |
- lizards that are usually small with short legs. |
| [00:34.34] |
Quite a variety live here in the Solomons, |
| [00:37.15] |
but there is one in these forests that's unlike any other skink on the planet. |
| [00:42.47] |
The monkey-tailed skink is up to 50 times heavier than your average skink, |
| [00:48.08] |
and is the world's largest. |
| [00:50.21] |
Most skinks spend their lives on the ground, but not this monster. |
| [00:54.71] |
This is the only skink to possess a prehensile tail |
| [00:58.27] |
and unlike nearly all other skinks which dine on insects, |
| [01:01.70] |
this gentle giant is entirely vegetarian. |
