Skull Island: A Documentation of the Most Terrifying Place on Earth

by SomethingWittyIGuess

In the summer of 1889, a British Naval ship sails from India to Australia, however a tropical storm causes it to wash up on a lost island in the Indian Ocean. The crew dubs the landmass Skull Island and they take note of the odd and even deadly fauna and flora that call this place home. Since then, several expeditions were made to explore this land and what lived there.

61. The Scalebadger

The Scalebadger (Melesaurus vulgaris)

Though the Chinese Crocodile Lizard may not seem all that charismatic, Skull Island is home to various closely-related reptiles that are much larger and more diverse. As mentioned in a previous entry, one such creature is the large and hypercarnivorous Hyena Lizard, its bone-crushing bite allowing it to become a force to be reckoned with in its arid environment. Though this majestic predatory squamate isn't the only megafaunal example of its kind on the island, one even more recognizable member is the rainforest-dwelling Scalebadger (Melesaurus vulgaris).

The Scalebadger is a 32 kg lizard that has a somewhat crocodilian appearance, with bony scutes appearing on the dorsal side of its dark brown hide. True to its mammalian namesake, it is an omnivorous burrower, feeding on a variety of different foods found in its jungle home. While it is far from a picky eater, most of its preferred foods seem to be of subterranean origin (hence its prolific skills as a digger) such as insects, worms, mushrooms, roots, and carrion. Also, despite its relatively small stature, it is actually a fairly competent hunter, able to kill an animal the size of an adolescent Skull Island False Elk.

The Scalebadger's exceptional burrowing ability also allows it to dig shelters. Males and females form lifelong monogamous pairs in which both parents fiercely protect their hatchlings in their burrow. They often take turns foraging for food and raising the young.

Author's Note: The Scalebadger is based on the Foetodon, a medium-sized crocodilian predator from the 2005 remake of King Kong and its companion book The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island.