Bobtail
Tiliqua rugosa
Whadjuk Noongar: Yoorn
Overview
Bobtails (Tiliqua rugosa), aka Shinglebacks, Australian sleepy lizard and Yoorn (in the Noongar language) are common across the southern half of Australia and have various subspecies. Bobtails are named for their short, wide, stumpy tail that resembles its head (possibly to confuse predators). The tail also contains fat reserves, which are drawn upon during brumation in winter – the reptile version of hibernation.
Bobtails adopt a home range that typically has a variety of terrain, with open sunny patches, grass and leaf litter for camouflage, and rocks or logs for protection. They mostly eat plants, berries and flowers (especially brightly coloured blossoms) supplemented by snails, insects and spiders for protein.
Bobtail romance
The average lifespan for these skinks is 10 to 15 years, but some individuals have been known to live for as much as 50 years.
The males are stockier than the females, smaller and have a larger head. Colours and tail shape vary between individuals and don’t appear to be related to their sex.
Bobtails are very loyal to their monogamous partners, which is a rare quality in reptiles. In their courting rituals, the male will follow the female around for a couple of weeks to prove themselves worthy of her attention. Year after year, individuals will find the same mate using scent trails and mating pairs have been known to return to each other for up to 20 years!
In Jirdarup Bushland, bobtail sightings are on the rise during spring as they start to emerge from brumation. Mating occurs from September to November, and from December to April the baby bobtails are born. The youngsters will stay with their parents for several months until they are fully matured but will often remain in close proximity to form a colony of related skinks.2
Fun fact
A bobtail will shed its skin several times a year as part of the growing process. This takes up to several hours, during which the lizard rubs against objects to help the process. The skin will often come off in one piece, including the eye covering, and may be eaten by other bobtails.
Protocols
- If you see a bobtail sunning itself on the path, please don’t disturb it and keep your dog on a leash to avoid nasty encounters.
- Please also pick up after your dog! Dog faeces contain bacteria and parasites that are harmful to lizards and other creatures, and toxic to some native plants as well.
- Bobtails are one of the most trafficked animals in Australia, so any suspicious behaviour should be reported to police4.
References
- Wilson, S and G Swan. (2021). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia (6th ed.). Reed New Holland Publishers.
- Norval, G and M Gardner (2019). The natural history of the sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa (Gray, 1825) – Insight from chance observations and long-term research on a common Australian skink species. Austral Ecology, 45(4), 410-417.
- The Australian Museum. (2020). Shingleback Lizard
- National Geographic. (2021). This ‘romantic’ lizard is one of Australia’s most trafficked animals.
Initial story by Oscar Garswood in 2022 updated and expanded here.