List of reptiles of Tasmania facts for kids

Rankinia diemensis is a type of mountain dragon found in Tasmania.

Tasmania, an island state of Australia, is home to many amazing creatures, including a variety of reptiles! Reptiles are cold-blooded animals, meaning their body temperature changes with their surroundings. They are known for their scales and for laying eggs, though some give birth to live young. Let's explore some of the cool lizards, snakes, and turtles you might find in Tasmania's wild places.

Lizards and Snakes: The Squamata Order

The largest group of reptiles is called Squamata. This group includes all the lizards and snakes. They are known for their flexible jaws and shedding their skin.

Fascinating Lizards of Tasmania

Lizards are a diverse group of reptiles, and Tasmania has many unique kinds. They come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny skinks to larger dragons.

• Mountain Dragon (Rankinia diemensis): This small dragon lizard is found in Tasmania. It has a rough, spiky look, helping it blend in with its rocky home. Mountain dragons are often seen basking in the sun to warm up.

• Eastern Three-lined Skink (Bassiana duperreyi): This skink gets its name from the three light-colored lines running down its back. It's a common sight in eastern Australia, including Tasmania, often found in grassy areas or under logs.

• She-oak Skink (Cyclodomorphus casuarinae): You can find this skink only in Tasmania. It's named after the she-oak trees where it often lives. These skinks are quite secretive and spend a lot of time hidden away.

• White's Skink (Egernia whitii): This skink is found in many parts of south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It's a sturdy lizard that likes to live in rocky areas, often hiding under stones or in crevices.

• Southern Water Skink (Eulamprus tympanum): As its name suggests, this skink loves water! It lives near streams and damp places in New South Wales, Victoria, and also on Rodondo Island, which is part of Tasmania.

• Delicate Skink (Lampropholis delicata): This small, shiny skink is very common across eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It's also been accidentally introduced to other places like New Zealand and Hawaii. You might spot it darting through leaf litter.

• Bougainville's Skink (Lerista bougainvillii): This skink is found in south-eastern Australia, including the north-eastern parts of Tasmania. It's known for its smooth, shiny scales.

• Spotted Skink (Carinascincus ocellatus): This skink is special because it's only found in Tasmania! It has a beautiful spotted pattern on its back, helping it camouflage among rocks and plants.

• Southern Snow Skink (Carinascinus microlepidotus): Another skink unique to Tasmania, the southern snow skink is adapted to colder environments. It can even be active in snowy conditions!

• Alpine Cool-skink (Carinascinus greeni): This skink is also found only in Tasmania, specifically in alpine (mountain) areas. It's built to survive in the chilly, high-altitude environments.

• Metallic Skink (Carinascinus metallicus): With its shiny, metallic-looking scales, this skink is found in southern Victoria and throughout Tasmania. It's a common sight in many different habitats.

• Tasmanian Mountain Skink (Carinascinus orocryptus): This skink is another Tasmanian exclusive. It lives in the mountainous regions of the island, well-adapted to its cool, rugged home.

• Pedra Branca Skink (Carinascinus palfreymani): This is a very rare skink found only on Pedra Branca, a small, remote island off the coast of Tasmania. It's a unique species living in a very special place.

• Southern Grass Skink (Pseudomoia entrecasteauxii): This skink is common in grassy areas across south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It's often seen basking on sunny patches.

• Southern Grass Tussock Skink (Pseudemoia pagenstecheri): This skink prefers to live in tussock grasses, which are clumps of grass. It's found in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania.

• Glossy Grass Skink (Pseudemoia rawlinsoni): This skink has a very smooth, glossy appearance. It lives in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, often in damp, grassy habitats.

• Blotched Blue-tongued Lizard (Tiliqua nigrolutea): This is one of the largest lizards in Tasmania! It has a distinctive blotched pattern and, like its name suggests, a bright blue tongue. It's found in several Australian states, including Tasmania.

Snakes Slithering Through Tasmania

Snakes are legless reptiles known for their unique way of moving and their ability to swallow large prey. Tasmania is home to several snake species, some of which are venomous. It's always best to observe snakes from a safe distance and never try to touch them.

• Lowland Copperhead (Austrelaps superbus): This venomous snake is found across south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It often lives in damp areas near water.

• White-lipped Snake (Drysdalia coronoides): This small, slender snake is also venomous and lives in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania. It gets its name from the pale line along its upper lip.

• Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus): This sea snake lives mainly in warm, tropical oceans. However, it has been sighted in colder waters, including off the coast of Tasmania, likely carried there by ocean currents.

• Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus): The tiger snake is a highly venomous snake found in various parts of Australia, including Tasmania. It has distinctive bands, like a tiger, though its colors can vary. It's important to be very careful around these snakes.

Turtles and Tortoises: The Testudines Order

Turtles and tortoises belong to the Testudines order. They are unique among reptiles because they have a special bony shell that protects their body.

Amazing Turtles of Tasmania

Tasmania's waters are visited by several species of sea turtles, and one freshwater turtle has been introduced to the island.

• Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta): This large sea turtle is found in oceans around the world. While they mostly live in warmer waters, they can sometimes be seen off the coast of Tasmania as they travel.

• Eastern Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis): This freshwater turtle is native to eastern Australia and was introduced to Tasmania. It has a very long neck, which it can stretch out to catch prey or pull into its shell for protection.

• Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas): Green sea turtles are large, plant-eating sea turtles found in tropical and subtropical oceans. They occasionally visit the waters around Tasmania.

• Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea): This is the largest living turtle and the fourth-heaviest modern reptile! Unlike other turtles, it has a leathery shell instead of a hard, bony one. Leatherbacks travel vast distances across oceans and can be found in Tasmanian waters, especially when following jellyfish, their main food source.

Images for kids

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  A close-up of a Mountain Dragon.

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  The Eastern Three-lined Skink, showing its distinctive stripes.

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  A She-oak Skink.

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  White's Skink, often found in rocky areas.

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  A Southern Water Skink near water.

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  The small and shiny Delicate Skink.

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  Bougainville's Skink.

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  A Spotted Skink, unique to Tasmania.

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  The Metallic Skink, known for its shiny scales.

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  A Southern Grass Skink.

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  The Southern Grass Tussock Skink.

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  A Glossy Grass Skink.

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  The Blotched Blue-tongued Lizard showing its pattern.

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  A Lowland Copperhead snake.

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  A White-lipped Snake.

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  The Yellow-bellied Sea Snake.

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  A Tiger Snake, showing its banded pattern.

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  A Loggerhead Sea Turtle swimming.

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  An Eastern Long-necked Turtle.

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  A Green Sea Turtle in the ocean.

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  A Leatherback Sea Turtle on a beach.