Shingleback lizard |
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Title : | Shingleback lizard |
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Date of creation : | ca. 1908 | ||
Format : | Photograph | ||
Dimensions : | 40 x 85 mm | ||
Contributor : | State Library catalogue | ||
Catalogue record | |||
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Description : |
The shingleback is one of the blue tongue lizard species and is also commonly known as the sleepy lizard or stumpy-tailed lizard. It is part of the skink family (Scincidae). Shinglebacks eat more plant food than do the other blue-tongue lizards. Blue-tongue lizards are not very agile and so eat slower moving animals. Their teeth are large and they have strong jaw muscles to crush snail shells and beetles. They live in open country with lots of leaf litter and other ground cover. When threatened they open thier mouth wide and the contrast of pink mouth and blue tongue makes a startling display; if this does not deter the attacker the lizards will also hiss, and as a last resort inflict a painful bite. |
Subjects | |
Period : | 1884-1913 |
Further reading : | Sarre, Stephen. The effects of isolation on island populations of the shingleback lizard (Tiliqua Rugosus), Canberra: Canberra C.A.E., 1988 Wilson, Stephen K. A complete guide to reptiles of Australia Sydney: Reed New Holland, 2003 |
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