Lifespan

On average wild shingleback skinks live for between 10 and 15 years. One captive individual has reached the age of 35 years.

Diet

Shingleback skinks are omnivores. Most of their diet is composed of vegetation such as leaves, berries, flowers and fruit. In addition to vegetation they will opportunistically consume insects and other arthropods.

Habitat

The shingleback skink is found across Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

They can be found in a range of habitats including sclerophyll forest, woodland, eucalypt forests, Mallee, mulga, heathlands grassland and shrubland.

Reproduction

Shingleback skinks are monogamous and mate with the same partner for life. One pair was recorded mating together for 10 consecutive years which is rare amongst reptiles. Each spring the male finds the female by following scent trails she leaves.

Female’s give birth to live young between December and April. This follows a five-month gestation period. There may be up to four young in a litter but typically there is only two. Young develop attached to a placenta which is like that of mammals. At birth they may be up to 1/3 the weight of their mother (200g in weight).

Behaviour

Shingleback skinks are active by day. They spend their time basking in the sun and looking for food. Around nightfall they will take shelter in leaf litter or under logs and rocks.

As they grow shingleback skinks shed their skin.

Threats

Natural predators of the shingleback skink include predatory birds and large snakes. They are also susceptible to introduced predators such as dogs and foxes.

When threatened by a predator these animal’s will open their mouth wide and display their broad blue tongue which contrasts with their pink mouth. The large size of the head may also ward off some predator’s. Their tough scales are also able to protect them when some animal’s bite them.

These animals are regularly killed by cars when they are crossing the road.

Some populations of these animals are under threat from collection for the pet trade both domestically and to be smuggled internationally.

How you can help

If you choose to purchase a shingleback skink as a pet, ensure it is captive bred and has not been captured from the wild. This prevents the decimation of wild populations. It will also provide you with a healthier lizard with a known history.

Quick Facts

The shingleback lizard has numerous common names. In different area’s they may be referred to as the sleepy lizard, bobtail, pinecone lizard, stumpy-tail, boggi or two-headed lizard.

References

James Harding, Michigan State University Loch, T. 2000. “Tiliqua rugosa” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tiliqua_rugosa.html

Shingle-back – Tiliqua rugosa, WetlandInfo, Department of Environment and Science, Queensland, viewed 6 July 2018, .(2018).

Tiliqua rugosa : Shingle-Back | Atlas of Living Australia. [online] Bie.ala.org.au. Available at: https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:3a9277a8-731a-4e32-9bf8-539e346d7df5#tab_recordsView [Accessed 7 Jul. 2018].

Australian Reptile Park – Wildlife Park Sydney & Animal Encounters Australia. (2018). Shingleback Habitat, Diet & Reproduction – Reptile Park. [online] Available at: https://reptilepark.com.au/animals/reptiles/skinks/shingleback/ [Accessed 7 Jul. 2018].

Sanderson, C., Lloyd, R., Craig, M. and Gaikhorst, G. (2018). Tiliqua rugosa (Pinecone lizard, Shingle-Back, Shingleback Lizard, Sleepy Lizard, Stumpy Tail Lizard). [online] Iucnredlist.org. Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/109481513/0 [Accessed 7 Jul. 2018].

Swanson, S. (2014). Field Guide to Australian Reptiles. New South Wales. Pascal Press.

Smith, James. (2016). Wildlife of Greater Adelaide. Stepney. Axiom Publishers.