Tonight, at about 9.30, our dogs went crazy! My eldest daughter feared they were attacking Monty, so we launched a rescue mission. Instead, amongst the hedges we found this:-
Now "this" is not a blue tongue because it's tongue is not blue. It was very cranky, hissing, with it's mouth open.
Which is not surprising since it was attacked by two dogs and then I picked it up.
Now, I need help to identify it. It has longer legs than a blue tongue, and the toes are long and spindly too. David wanted to keep it as a pet. But we chose to put it back. Can you help??
Its shape is different too. Longer tail. and then it crapped all over me ( which they do). Monty's are like weapons of mass destruction.. Ouf!
ReplyDeleteIs it a baby goanna?
ReplyDeletejust checked that on the net. neck is too short. it is very similar to a blue tongue except for the legs/fingers and tail longer... kinda like a beautiful blue tongue ( if that makes sense)
ReplyDeleteI like its 'koala' nose HAHA!! Sorry no can help other than also googling ...
ReplyDeleteme too.. yes, its nose was very cute for real! I found its eyes very beautiful and clear.
ReplyDeleteI tried googling skink and nothing similar came up... :o(
I have no idea how reliable this author is: http://www.anapsid.org/bluetong.html
ReplyDeleteBut she listed one pink-tongued lizard amongst her blue-tongued ones:
"Hemisphaeriodon gerrardii (previously: T. gerrardii; sometimes Cyclodomorphus gerrardii) - Australian Pink-Tongued skink
Found in New South Wales, Eastern Australia. Grows to 40-45 cm./ 15.5-17.5 in. This skink lives in a wetter forest habitat than the other Australian Skinks, is nocturnal in warm weather and diurnal in cold and feeds almost exclusively on snails and slugs. Produces 12-25 live young in summer. Distribution: New South Wales, Queensland."
And Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemisphaeriodon
ReplyDeletehas this to say about it:
"Cyclodomorphus gerrardii and Tiliqua gerrardii). H. gerrardii is very similar in appearance to the Eastern Blue-Tongue, Tiliqua scincoides. Their markings are very similar; however, H. gerrardii or Pink-Tongue has, true to its name, a pink tongue as an adult. It is also much more slender than the T. scincoides, having a more slender body, a much longer and narrower tail as well as a smaller head. In addition, the limbs are more developed and longer than those of the Blue-Tongues. H. gerrardii can be distinguished from the Cyclodomorphus spp. by its relatively shorter body, longer limbs and a much broader head."
And yes.... I am up late.... a bit to hot and sticky... need a shower maybe...
ReplyDeleteI could never live where you live. I am not used to animals, not even to pets.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the identification!
HAHA, thanks Kiwi Nomad for finding whilst we Aussies sleep! Hope Simon agrees, it does sound likely to be an Australian Pink-Tongued skink!
ReplyDeleteKiwi:- thats brilliant! because there were a lot of slugs and snails out, heading towards the dog food and the spilt bird seed.
ReplyDeleteAlso the garden it was found in is "rain forest" with ferns, palms and low ground covers- lots of litter..
A pink tongued skink! I think we will call it Koala! Thanks Kiwi!
May:- you do get used to it. You have to learn a lot about the wildlife otherwise it can lead to a bit of a panic. Especially with the spiders.
We do not spray for pests at all and I think the balance is right, we do not have pests in the house at all.
anon:- I was stone cold out of it" whilst Kiwi worked it out....
ReplyDeleteI was also stone cold out of it! I like the name "Koala" :)
ReplyDeleteSorry I couldn't help but I wanted say that it is absolutely gorgeous! I would have been with David for keeping it. That said though, I haven't kept a single one of my found lizards, not with these wicked hunter cats around.
ReplyDeleteAnon:- :o)
ReplyDeleteLin! yes cats can be like that. So can our Tenterfield terriers...
My goodness, what a find! I haven't a clue what it is, but I would have certainly have put it back - quickly (eeeeek!)..
ReplyDeleteshrinky:- its a pink tongued skink.. Kiwi researched it!
ReplyDeleteIt seems you are not alone when it comes to the "eeekk" part. May does not seem to like it either! :o)
I think its rather beautiful!
Looking at its Latin name, gerrardii, I think you should call it Gerry, which reminds me of an uncle of mine. Koala seems like quite the wrong name for a skink to me, but you Aussies sometimes have a weird sense of humour ;-)
ReplyDeletewe called it Koala because its nose looks like a koalas kiwi
ReplyDeleteYou can call me a Kiwi- I would be quite happy with that. Though I hope my nose doesn't look like one.
ReplyDeleteI think it is really beautiful, but I am glad that you would not deprive it of its freedom! My son used to trap all kinds of lizards back home in Washington. He'd build portable terrariums to keep them overnight, take them to school the next morning, then release them after school. Voila', another few minutes shaved off the daily morning spelling bee! :-) This went on until the teacher called me to complain. *chuckle* Now he's studying biology and environmental research management.
ReplyDeleteResources management,
ReplyDeleteor something along that order. ;-)
Simon,
ReplyDeleteI just saw the cutest toad ever, rescued by Absolute Vanilla in South Africa, here, a Leopard Toad. I wonder whether you got them also down under.
I think it's a llama
ReplyDeleteThat's a cute little llama/koala cross you have there Simon! So it gets to stay huh?
ReplyDeleteI like the boat in the previous post too - it sounds as though you have a very cool boss!
PS - I think you might like Plumpy's latest post.
Merisi:- David want to work with animals when older and do a science degree. I find that nice. His room is fast becoming a zoo!
ReplyDeletewe do have toads!!
Ju's:- yes! and yes i do have a cool boss! :o)
Happy 90th Birthday Simon!
ReplyDeleteahhahahahah! thanks Anon! ;o)
ReplyDeleteMy knee went on me in the kitchen! damn thing!
i reckon its stilll a bluey.. except with a genetic problem or something... like a cross between an albino an a normal one... the tail and limbs could be genetic as well.. i mean i did some research on www.bluetongueskinks.net and they've got pics of two headed lizards...
ReplyDelete