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The Shingleback (Tiliqua rugosa) is a short tailed and slow moving species of blue-tongued skink found in Australia. It has a heavily armoured body and can be found in various colours, ranging from dark brown to cream. It is often seen sunning itself on roadsides or other paved areas. This skink is also known by a variety of common names such as bobtail, stump-tailed skink, bogeyes, and the Pinecone or Australian sleepy lizard.[2] They have short, wide stumpy tails that resemble their head, and may confuse predators. The tail also contains fat reserves, which are drawn upon during hibernation in winter. The shingleback skink is an omnivore that eat snails and plants and spends much of its time browsing through vegetation for food.
[edit] Etymology and taxonomyThe species was first described by John Edward Gray in 1825 as Trachydosaurus rugosus.[2] It has since been reclassified as Tiliqua rugosa, herpetologists claim this species has more common names than any other lizard.[3] [edit] SubspeciesFour subspecies are currently recognized:[2]
[edit] Distribution and habitatThe species is widely distributed in arid to semi-arid regions of southern and western Australia. The range extends from Shark Bay, Western Australia, across the southern-most regions of the country to the coast, then north into Queensland. Four subspecies are found in Western australia, including one at Rottnest Island. It also occurs in the eastern states of Victoria and New South Wales, but does not reach coastal areas.[7] The habitat of the species includes shrubland and desert grassland to sandy dunes. These skinks are well known, due to a preference for sun basking and open areas, and are often seen along roadsides or other cleared areas in its range.[8] [edit] Description Tiliqua rugosa has a heavily armoured body and can be found in various colours, ranging from dark brown to cream.[3] Its total length seldom exceeds 18 or 25 inches, but it is a very heavy-bodied lizard for its length.[3] It has a triangular shaped head, and a bright blue tongue.[3] Its short stumpy tail is similar in shape to its head. This possibly evolved as a defence mechanism against predators and has led to the common name of "two-headed skink".[3] Their short tail also contains fat reserves, which the lizard lives upon during hibernation in winter.[3] Unlike many skinks, shinglebacks do not exhibit autotomy and cannot shed their tails [9]. [edit] Diet Tiliqua rugosa is an omnivore that eat snails, insects, carrion, and vegetation. The species was once preyed upon by dingos, Australian pythons such as Morelia spilota, and local peoples; a threat is now more likely to come from large introduced feral species such as foxes and cats.[10] [edit] Reproduction Tiliqua rugosa is a viviparous skink, giving birth to broods of 1 to 4 relatively large offspring.[3] Unlike most lizards, the species tends to be monogamous extending outside the breeding season of September through November; such pairs have been known to return to each other every year for up to 20 years.[11][3] Upon being born, the newborn young immediately consume their afterbirth.[3] The young stay with their parents for several months before moving on, however they remain in close proximity forming a colony of closely related skinks.[3] The male of a monogamous pair eats less while parenting, remaining alert and ready to give an alarm.[3] [edit] References
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