Australian Lizards

Abstract

- overview with introductory part on biology of lizards - then some species explained and short introductory section on various groups - reptiles: lizards, snakes, crocodilians, tortoises and turtles, and Tuatara of NA - detailed picture of head scales of a skink - useful for identification - ear structure diagram - differences b/w mammals and lizards - lizard eyes: gecko eyes can't move; two other eye structures, one with lower lid, and one with upper and lower lid - smell - have Jacobson's organ, and smell is important for some species (perhaps not so important for tree-dwellers) - different types of gecko feet in a diagram - quite a range of structures present! - tongues generally broad and fleshy, apart from the goanna - taxonomic chart showing order, families etc GECKOS - bulging eyes, vertical shaped pupils, strangely adapted tails- - two types of feet: those with pads (often climbing) and others with claws (often ground-dwelling) - can shed their tail when predated upon - no eyelid - therefore need to lick their eyes PYGOPODIDAE (legless lizards) - legs reduced to flappy scales - burrow under soft earch or debris - eg Burton's legless lizard SCINCIDAE - over 140 species in Australia, very diverse group - classification is very patchy (note this was 1970) - mostly ground-dwelling, sometimes arboreal - can shed their tails AGAMIDAE - interior of mouth usually brightly coloured - cannot regenerate tails - well adapted to dry conditions VARANIDAE - of the world's 25 goannas, 18 in Australia, mostly in dry parts - eat carrion, small mammals, reptiles, insects - run up trees with trunk b/w themselves and aggressor - can run on two legs