Tight-lipped Eastern Blue Tongued Lizard

There was dappled shade on the road ahead, and among the shadows lay an inconsistent shape. We slowed down to scan more carefully, and sure enough, one of the 'shadows' was actually a lizard basking in the heat from the road.



This one has had a run in with something, maybe one of the areas many falling rocks, or perhaps someone has had a go at trying to eat him! Either way, his wound has knit together very nicely. Check out those claws! He will surely need those to help him climb in the terrain around here.



Silly me, I had hopped out of the Rover with only the 'Long Nose' on the camera, so I actually was unable to get a shot of him in his entirety.


Being perfectly comfortable as he was, he was not concerned with my walking right up to him. Indeed, he probably would have stayed put even if Id gone back to the car for the shorter lens.

But..."Safety First", I had best get us both off this road before some hoon comes along and kills us all. I looked back at the Rover for a sign from The Most DH, who obliged me by calling out "Stroke his tail, and he'll shift."



And indeed, he did. Now you can see how his pattern helps him blend into his surroundings. Sorry he would not show his lovely bright blue tongue for us, they are shockingly blue!

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Eastern Blue Tongued Lizard (or Skink) at Wiki
Blue Tongue Skinks.net

I miss the one who lived in the garden, I am over-run with snails since it left!