Lizards on trail
Australian Wildlife
While hikers tend to worry about snakes when out bush by far the most common member of the reptile family we come across in Australia are lizards. What they have in common is that both of these reptiles are cold blooded and appreciate the sun so we often tend to see them sunbathing, often in the middle of the trail, because this is usually the warmest, sun exposed area around.
As a young child I belonged to a generation that used to go bush after school to try to catch lizards so I’m very used to them but even so when I’m hiking and catch one of the larger ones out of the corner of my eye, my first thought is ‘snake’. As some stage, if you’re an active bushwalker, you will come across lizards on the trail. I certainly do on a regular basis.
The following information is intended as a guide to assist in getting on well with our scaly friends while out in the bush.
Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) on the Manly to Spit Bridge Trail
Lizard Behaviour
Lizards are cold blooded and as such in the southern parts of Australia it is less likely you will come across them in the cooler months. However once the days start to warm up, they are often out and about seeking somewhere warm to heat up, looking for mates or feeding. In fact most of the images in this article were taken during the warmer parts of the day, in the warmer months and without fail it’s when they are sun baking.
It is very common to find lizards sun baking in the middle, or just on the edge of the trail because that’s often the areas that is more open to the sun. Time wise it needs to be warm so if you only ever hike in the early part of the day you are unlikely to see them while the temperature is still cool.
On the whole lizards are reasonably harmless to us as hikers although as with snakes it’s when you handle them that there is the potential to get bitten. Wile some Australian lizard species do have small amounts of venom this isn’t usually a problem for us however the larger specimens can inflict a painful bite. Lizards, like snakes, will try to avoid humans where they can and will often move off as we approach although some species of lizards such as Blue Tongue and Shingleback lizards are relatively slow moving so getting photos of these species is usually fairly easy.
Skink species
Shingleback Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) also known as Stumpy-tailed Lizard or Bobtail Lizard. This particular specimen was really shiny and black so had probably only recently shed its skin
Blue Tongue Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides). This specimen was quite happily sunning itself on the trail and was approximately 60cm long which is the largest one I have ever seen!
What do I do if I encounter a lizard?
- Leave them alone and appreciate our wildlife from afar and for what it is
- Never handle them because while they aren’t highly venomous like snakes the bite can be painful from the larger specimens
Rosenberg’s Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) on Kangaroo Island, SA
Last words
So as far as lizards go the main issue tends to be when you glance them out of the corner of your eye and automatically think snake because of the scales/and or narrow long tale that some species have. For me seeing lizards on the trail brings back childhood memories – I’ll always stop and take a photo of the slower moving species.
Like any wildlife you are best leaving them alone and appreciating them as part of the Australian bush.