Shingleback Lizard
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Tiliqua rugosa or Shingleback Lizard
A close relative of the more familiar bluetongue, the shingleback lizard is an extremely distinctive member of the lizard family known as skinks. Its two most striking features are the short rounded tail, which bears a remarkable resemblance to the head end to confuse predators and the huge scales covering the body giving it a rough and bumpy appearance. Like its close relative, the Shingleback Lizard has a large tongue, which is fleshy and dark blue in colour and used to warn off any potential threats such as dingoes or foxes. An adult shingleback lizard is robust lizards with a broad, triangular head. A large adult will measure over 35cm in length.
Shingleback lizard appear to have more common names than any other Australian animal. It seems every region in this animal's distribution has its own preferred name. Apart from shingleback, others names include sleepy lizard, bobtail, pinecone lizard, stumpy-tail, boggi and double-headed lizard. Most of the diet is made up of vegetable matter including foliage, berries and fruits. They have a particular liking for flowers and will seasonally gorge themselves on blossoms, particularly yellow ones, if given the opportunity. The occasional insect, spider or scorpion is also eaten.
Did you know...
- A close relative of the more familiar blue tongue, a shingleback lizard is an extremely distinctive member of the lizard family known as skinks.
- Like its close relative, the tongue of the shingleback lizard is large, fleshy and dark blue in colour and used to warn off any potential threats such as dingoes or foxes.
- Apart from shingleback, others names include sleepy lizard, bobtail, pinecone lizard, stumpy-tail, boggi and double-headed lizard.
- Its two most striking features are the short rounded tail, which bears a remarkable resemblance to the head end to confuse predators and the huge scales covering the body giving it a rough and bumpy appearance.
Distribution of Shingleback Lizard in Australia:
