29 Jul π¦ Our mystery animal is the Shingleback Skink!
π¦Our mystery animal is the Shingleback Skink! The scientific name of this animal is ππͺππͺπ²πΆπ’ π³πΆπ¨π°π΄π’.
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You might have guessed what this animal was just by looking at its scales. They are often colloquially known as pinecone lizards, as their scales resemble the rough surface of an unopened pinecone.
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The fatty, head-like tail of this lizard serves a number of purposes. One, it provides a fat store of energy for the lizard when food availability is low. Two, it can act as a defence mechanism to confuse predators. If under threat the lizard will βwagβ itβs tail to draw attention away from its head!
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Shinglebackβs can live up to the grand old age of 50 years, forming long term partnerships, roaming in pairs. Many of these partnerships last longer than a decade, with one study finding a pair remaining together for 27 years!
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Curious for more? Head to the link below to discover more about these amazing lizards.