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The Conversation
The Conversation
Janne Torkkola, PhD Student, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University

Why are there so many lizards in Australia? The ancient climate holds a clue

Prickly forest skink (_Gnypetoscincus queenslandiae_). Will-Hunt/iNaturalist, CC BY-NC

If you travel around Australia, you will find an incredible diversity of lizards.

The three-toed snake-tooth skink (Saiphos reticulatus), for example, is a peculiarly long and stumpy legged reptile that burrows in rainforest and is covered in a brilliant orange and black-banded pattern. Alpine water skinks (Eulamprus kosciuskoi) are incredibly cold-tolerant and mottled with black and greenish yellow, like mossy rocks in mountain streams. Prickly forest skinks (Concinnia queenslandiae) are delightfully chunky-headed, spiky, armoured rainforest gems.

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