Guest Author - Peyton Creadick

Welcome to Part Two of our three part series on Tasmanian reptiles and amphibians. As mentioned in Part One, there are three species of snake and seventeen species of lizard. As promised in Part One, I am including a complete list with links to each individual species. I couldn’t possibly do them all justice unless I made this series much much longer!

LIZARDS
Agamidae:
Mountain Dragon Rankinia diemensis

Scincidae:
Three-lined skink Acritoscincus duperreyi
White's skink Egernia whitii
Delicate skink Lampropholis delicata
Lerista bougainvillii
Metallic skink Niveoscincus metallicus
Southern Grass skink Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii
Tussock skink Pseudemoia pagenstecheri - threatened
Glossy Grass skink Pseudemoia rawlinsoni - threatened
Blotched Blue-tongue lizard Tiliqua nigrolutea

Endemic Species:
She-oak skink Cyclodomorphus casuarinae
Mountain skink Niveoscincus orocryptum
Northern Snow skink Niveoscincus greeni
Southern Snow skink Niveoscincus microlepidotus
Spotted skink Niveoscincus ocellatus
Pedra Branca skink Niveoscincus palfreymani - threatened
Tasmanian Tree skink Niveoscincus pretiosus

SNAKES
Tiger snake Notechis scutatus – threatened (Chappell Island)
Lowland Copperhead Austrelaps superbus
White-lipped snake Drysdalia coronoides

If you haven’t had time to look at all these incredible reptiles, don’t worry, I provided the links for your enjoyment if you wished to delve more deeply into the individual species. In the mean time, on to learning more about the reptiles of Tasmania!

Reptiles in Tasmania face certain obstacles. Tasmania is not a hot and humid reptile paradise. It’s cool with high mountain ranges. This means that the reptiles of Tasmania must be highly adaptive to have survived so well. Most of them don’t become active unless the temperature well exceeds 15 Degrees Celcius (59 Degrees Fahrenheit). Consequently, some of the reptiles in Tasmania must brumate, or enter a torpor, during the winter.

One thing you’ll notice if you look through the images of Tasmanian lizards is that many are very similar in appearance. A lot of that has to do with the plethora of skinks living in Tasmania. The body shape is expectedly similar. The colors are often drab, but a few of them, like the Northern Snow Skink, are striking animals. Most are not as exciting as some Tasmanian amphibians; however, they are still quite beautiful.

The previously mentioned Northern Snow Skink is a particular favorite of mine. It is not only a beautiful lizard, but it is a prime example of a thriving species in Tasmania. It is an alpine species with the ability to raise its body temperature well above the surrounding air. It is also a livebearing species as are most endemic Tasmanian lizards.

For the most part, like the Northern Snow Skin, the reptiles of Tasmania are succeeding in the face of modernization and human encroachment. Depending upon the species, the lizards of Tasmania are most at risk from rats, cats, Silver Gulls, Global Warming, and habitat destruction. The alpine species are particularly in danger from Global Warming.

Despite this list of threats, the Pedra Branca skink is the only endemic species listed as vulnerable. This may be due to a number of factors such as the particular range and food choices of the Pedra Branca. Part of its diet consists of sea bird eggs and fish regurgitated from sea birds. These items are seasonal, and populations of this skink are known to fluctuate from 250 to 600 lizards. Another potential problem could be its maturation rate. It is a long live species that reaches maturity between 6 and 8 years of age with a life expectancy of 10 years.

You’ve no doubt noticed how much more time I have devoted to the lizards than to the snakes. That has to do with the number of snakes verses the number of lizards, primarily. Interestingly, the snakes of Tasmania are livebearers like the endemic lizards of Tasmania. They are also all venomous, though the White-lipped Snake is not a threat to most adult humans.

The venomous Tasmanian Tiger Snake has recently been shown to be the same species as one existing on mainland Australia. The most intriguing aspect of this snake is the reported sightings of red-bellied versions in Tasmania. In addition, it has impressive litters averaging as many as 126 young. The Lowland Copperhead‘s litters average up to 26 young.

Unfortunately for the skinks in Tasmania, all three of the resident snake species view them as being excellent potential meals. The White-lipped snake’s offspring are born just in time to take advantage of an abundance of baby skins. Luckily for many of the skinks who reproduce annually, the White-lipped Snake only produces litters every two years!

This ends Part Two. I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief look into the reptiles of Tasmania. Next week, in Part Three, we will take a look at the Amphibians of Tasmania. I can’t wait!