Mauritius Giant Skink
By Nick Bibby- Size:
- 26 × 24 × 60cm
- Medium:
- Bronze
- Edition size:
- 10
Didosaurus mauritianus
This largest ever skink disappeared before the arrival of Europeans on the shores of the Mascarene Islands.
Extinction probably occurred in the 15th Century and it is possible that Arab-trading ships introduced rats to the islands at an early date.
An almost complete skeleton was found at the foot of Le Pouce Mountain in Mauritius and other skeletal remains have been found elsewhere on the island. These have been used in the reconstruction together with the skeleton of Leiolopisma telfairi, the Round Island or Telfairs skink which is its closest living relative.
