Trachydosaurus rugosus
While on the recent trip out to western New South Wales we came across several Shingleback lizards.
A shingleback, or stumpytail as they are frequently called, throws out its tongue
in threat display on being steered away from the roadside for its own safety.
These lizards spend much of their time resting among low ground and leaf litter,
and when lying still their spiny scales resemble those of pine cones, even though
there are none of those in the area.
They are quiet animals, feeding mostly on plant parts, flowers, seeds etc.
And despite their threat display they have no real bite to be aware of.
Unique in reptiles, they live in pairs, closely in spring during the mating season,
and still in the same general area for the rest of the time. Mark Clayton found
these two resting under an old sheet of corrugated iron.
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