WILDLIFE

Lizards
of Tasmania
There are 17 species of lizard found in Tasmania. Of
these, seven are found nowhere else on Earth. The only
other reptiles found in the State are three species of
snake, which like our lizards, are members of the order
Squamata, the most diverse and widespread reptile
group.

Being a lizard
There are advantages to being a lizard. Lizards are
ectotherms (which translated means ‘outside heat’), using
external sources of heat to raise their body temperature
sufficiently to become active. By contrast, mammals
and birds are endotherms (‘inside heat’) using internal
Photo: Metallic Skink (Niveoscincus metallicus) M. Driessen
processes to maintain their body temperature. Producing
your own body heat is expensive. Mammals use 70- closely tied to the health of the parent female.
90% of the food they eat just to maintain their body
temperature, so of course they have to eat a lot. Lizards, In Tasmania’s relatively cold conditions, keeping the
and other reptiles, can go for days, even months without young within the body allows the parent to have greater
food. control over the incubation temperature and the chances
of survival are increased. All over the world reptiles in
Most lizards are able to raise their body temperature colder areas tend to bear live young.
rapidly above that of the air temperature on sunny days.
They achieve this by choosing basking sites which are Life in a dry climate
sheltered from the wind and exposed not only to direct Lizards are well adapted to survive dry conditions; they
sunlight but to the warmth reflected off rocks or logs. If do not lose moisture through their skins by sweating.
the substrate has been warmed by the sun they will often Land-dwelling reptiles conserve water by excreting uric
flatten themselves against it to absorb as much heat as acid in a solid white pellet at the end of their droppings.
they can. In other words these reptiles don’t pee.
Many species have other adaptations for life in a dry
Being a lizard in Tasmania environment. For example, most small Tasmanian skinks
Tasmania’s relatively cool climate and high mountain have a transparent scale in their lower eyelid, which
ranges provide certain challenges for our lizards. Most provides protection for the eye and prevents moisture
species only become active when the air temperature loss. These lizards normally close their eyes when at
is well above 15 degrees Celsius. Consequently, some rest, but can still see. If there is any movement that might
species of reptile enter a torpor over winter and most mean danger or food, they quickly open their eyes.
have developed strategies and adaptations to thrive in
Tail dropping
Tasmania’s cooler environment.
Many people have witnessed a lizard dropping its tail.
Reproduction Most skinks and some dragons have the ability to lose
Three species of lizard found in Tasmania give birth to their tail quickly if it is grasped by a predator, and can
live young rather than laying eggs. In some cases the eggs then grow a new tail (blue tongue lizards do not lose
merely develop within the body until they are ready their tail). Dropping a tail is not something a lizard does
to hatch. The eggshell has been dispensed with, but the casually—the tail is a useful part of a lizard, storing body
young are still born within an amniotic membrane. Other fat, providing balance, assisting in temperature regulation
species, such as the Grass skinks, have a well-developed and acting in breeding displays.
placenta and the health of the newborn young is more

Depar tment of Pr imar y Industr ies, Par ks, Water and Environment
The tail breaks at a fracture plane in one of the bones, Conservation
and immediately small muscle rings constrict the blood
The biggest threat to reptile fauna, indeed all fauna in
vessels around the break so the lizard doesn’t bleed to
Australia, is destruction of habitat. All bush, whether it is a
death. At the same time muscles in the severed part of
council reserve or a patch of scrub on a farm that hasn’t
the tail begin to twitch rapidly.
been cleared, is home to wildlife.
This usually has the effect of making the predator hold
onto the tail more tightly, becoming distracted while
Off-reserve conservation is important (in some cases
the lizard makes good its escape.
essential) for the long-term survival of many species of
The tail will slowly grow back, but a change in colour animals and plants.
pattern on the tail will identify the tail as regrown.
Many lizards rely on rocks and logs for shelter.You can
Regenerated portions of tails do not have bones in
help protect them by buying quarried stone for rockeries
them. The tail is supported by a rod of cartilage instead.
rather than collecting bushrock. When collecting firewood,
leave some larger logs (and all hollow logs) behind. Hollow
Species of lizards in Tasmania logs, which don’t form until a tree is at least 80 years old,
There are five families of lizards in Australia; only two provide shelter not only from cold, rain and predators, but
of these occur in Tasmania. from fire as well.
Skinks (Scincidae) are the most successful family of Cats cause a great deal of damage to Australia’s fauna.
lizards in the world, and the group is well represented Unfortunately, there is little difference between feral and
in Tasmania with 16 described species, of which seven domestic cats in this regard, except that feral cats are
are endemic (restricted to Tasmania). Tasmanian skinks hunting to survive. If you own a cat, the responsible thing to
are diurnal lizards, ranging in size from the Delicate do is to have it desexed and keep it indoors at night. Putting
skink through to the Blotched Blue-tongue. Skinks bells on your cat (unless it’s a cow bell) is not a particularly
generally have glossy scales, each containing a small good way to stop your cat from hunting wildlife. Cats tend
bone, or osteoderm, and enlarged head shields. to pounce on prey rather than rush at it so by the time an
Dragons (Agamidae) are poorly represented in animal hears a bell it’s often too late.
Tasmania with only one species, the Mountain dragon, Other introduced animals that feed on lizards may have
occurring here. Other more famous members of the a serious long-term impact on populations. Laughing
dragon family living in Australia include the Frilled Kookaburras and lyrebirds have both been introduced to
Lizard of northern Australia and the Thorny Devil of Tasmania and both species feed on lizards.
the sandy deserts.
The introduction of reptiles into the State has the potential
Dragons tend to have long hind limbs, small, coarse to introduce disease and competition into Tasmanian
scales and large heads. All dragons lay eggs and they are environments. The importation of reptiles into Tasmania is
most numerous in the warmer parts of Australia. illegal without a scientific permit.

Internet: www.parks.tas.gov.au

D ep a r t m e n t o f Pr im ar y In du str ie s, Par k s , Wa t e r a nd Env i r o nm e nt