King's Skink - Egernia kingii

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King's Skink - Egernia kingii

The largest skink in the Esperance region, growing to well over half a metre in length and unlike the other two large skinks (Shingleback and Western Blue-tongue), these guys are very fast moving and even where common you can miss seeing any, although you will hear their noisy retreat as they disappear into dense vegetation. Yet these are rare in the Esperance region, although common elsewhere like the offshore islands and rocky outcrops further to the west. Again I put this scarcity down to predation from cats and foxes, plus limited habitat suitable for their retreat. The latter is most important as these large lizards are very sociable and will stay together as family units for several years, much of which is spent around the home site.

This large lizard can be mistaken for a goanna if only seen for a fleeting moment, but the speedy retreat, shorter legs and lower level that the head is held will easily distinguish it. Like the other large skinks it has a wide ranging diet, eating vegetation, invertebrates, small vertebrates and even carrion. The King's Skinks I have seen in the Esperance area were all heavily mottled with lighter spots on a darker background, but in other areas that coloration is restricted to young animals and the adults can be very dark with no mottling.

For more information about the sociable nature of these lizards see here:

http://natureitems.blogspot.com/search/label/39.%20%20King%27s%20Skink

Western Blue-tongue Lizard - Tiliqua occipitalis

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Western Blue-tongue Lizard - Tiliqua occipitalis

Of similar size to the Shingleback Lizard, but nowhere as common in the Esperance region and mainly found on or around granite outcrops. This is strange because a similar lizard in the eastern States is quite common, even within built up areas. I strongly suspect the fox and feral cats are to blame along with limited habitat for them to safely retreat.

When confronted these blue-tongued skinks really put on a show by standing their ground and flattening their bodies to make them look bigger, plus hiss and open their substantially wide mouths to show their flashing blue tongue. However this is all bluff and only effective if they spot the predator before they pounce. I would think these lizards would be more palatable than the more common and related shingleback lizard and would be liable to higher predation.

The Western Blue-tongue Lizard is not likely to be confused with any other lizard along the south coast of WA. The combination of a flat blue tongue, large size, plus several pale/dark bands around the body are unmistakable. They are very adaptable as to what they eat and will consume almost anything that will fit into their cavernous mouths; this includes flowers, fruit, invertebrates and small vertebrates. They have very strong jaws, so keep fingers away from their mouths as they can easily crush snail shells. For more information about this lizard and comparison with the eastern species, go here:

http://natureitems.blogspot.com/search/label/34.%20%20Western%20Blue-tongued%20Lizard

Shingleback Lizard - Tiliqua rugosa

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Shingleback Lizard - Tiliqua rugosa

These lizards are actually skinks, and there are three large skinks in the Esperance region with the Shingleback being by far the most common. Known over much of southern Australia, the Shingleback is called by several names, of which Stumpy-tail and Bobtail are also commonly used.

Growing to around 16" (over 400 mm in total length), with a large head and a thick scaly back, it can look quite scary, but when it suddenly lifts its head, with a big mouth agape, hissing loudly and showing a broad blue tongue, it is. But they are relatively harmless with a great show of bluff. However, they have very strong jaws that can damage fingers.

Despite being very slow their appearance has obviously deterred predators like cats and foxes. They must smell a little as dogs can locate them with ease, plus they might not taste too good either. However in autumn when food for foxes is scarce, these lizards are attacked and the lower portions of some are eaten. Nevertheless, they are still very common in the district, evidenced by the numbers that are killed annually on the roads when slowly crossing. It makes me wonder how long it can continue without serious loss.

Socially these are very interesting animals and if you want to find out more, go here:

http://natureitems.blogspot.com/search/label/10.%20%20Stumpy-tail%20Lizard