Shingle-Back Lizard

Trachydosaurus rugosus

DESCRIPTION

The Shingle-Back Lizards colour and pattern varies considerably across geographical regions, the typical colours being dull reddish-brown, dark brown or blackish with white markings. The body is covered with large scales that have a pine cone appearance. It has very short limbs, and a short rounded tail which is slightly longer in males than females.

The Shingle-Back Lizard is widely distributed over the southern half of mainland Australia including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, and it extends into south Queensland. It is absent however from coastal areas of New South Wales and Victoria and totally absent from the Northern Territory and Tasmania. It is a slow moving diurnal lizard that feeds on insects, snails, carrion, flowers, fruit and berries. The lizard produces one to three young in a litter. When inactive the lizard shelters under fallen timber, leaf litter, etc. There are three sub-species of the Shingle-Back Lizard; Trachydosaurus rugosus rugosus is found in Western Australia, Trachydosaurus rugosus asper can be found in easterly areas and Trachydosaurus rugosus konowi is located on Rottnest Island off the Western Australian coast.