Reptiles in Western Australia

Australia has been called "The Land of the Lizards"

Aborigines can judge the health of the country by observing the amount of lizards it contains.

Click on the image for the 'Gecko Gert' story.

When threatened, these slow and gentle

Stumpy-tailed BLUE-TONGUE skinks

frighten off predators such as Eagles, Kookaburras and Snakes by hissing and opening their mouths widely.
A bite may hurt but it's not venomous.

Mouse over the image if you dare!

Some blue-tongues are more aggressive than others.

Found in many WA backyards.

Click on the image to view the series.

These harmless, gentle, slow-moving creatures are a delight to find in the bush.

If lucky, you will see its unusual gait of freeze-frame, leg-lifting and rocking or watch it lick up a huge meal of ants.

This little desert devil can change colour to blend with the background and has grooves down its back that channel rain into the mouth.

Image courtesy of Gail from Dongara.

Skink
Egernia napoleonis

Soaking up the sun's blood-warming energy.

More skink pics

WESTERN BEARDED DRAGON
Pogona minor minor

The bearded dragon's lovable personality and calm nature have made it an extremely popular pet worldwide.

Beardies feed on insects and other invertebrates, as well as vegetable matter and can live up to 10 years in captivity.

Highly valued by the Aborigines as a delicious source of protein.

PERENTIE

When frightened, these powerful, burrowing, egg-laying, fork-tongued monitor lizards will run and climb the nearest tree (or human).
"Australia's largest lizard"

Western Brown Snake or Gwardar

A dangerously venomous snake which can be very fast and aggressive when threatened or disturbed. It is capable of injecting a large dose of highly toxic venom.

Between 1980 and 2025 there have been approximately 41 deaths attributed to brown snakes in Australia — about one death per year.

But, in comparison, the common honeybee causes more deaths each year in Australia.

South-western Carpet Python - Morelia spilota imbricata

A large non-venomous snake found in southern regions of Western Australia. Pythons kill small mammals and birds by constriction until they suffocate.

So named because their colouring resembles the patterns of old-fashioned carpets.

Brian Bush's Homepage

Snakes Harmful & Harmless - specialising in reptile education.

The information on Brian's site is orientated towards Australian and particularly Western Australian reptiles.