Lizards and Reptiles

Lizards and Reptiles on the Sunshine Coast

Common Snakes on the Sunshine Coast

Blue-Tongued Lizard

Blue-Tongued Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides)

- Non-Venomous

Stout and non-threatening looking, the eastern blue-tongued lizard has a short body with short appendages. Growing up to 60cm and weighing as much as 1kg as an adult, this reptile is a member of the skink family. Their tails are quite short as well, giving this lizard an overall stocky appearance.

As their name suggests, they have bright blue tongues!
Burton’s Legless Lizard

Burton’s Legless Lizard (Lialis burtonis)

- Non-Venomous

Despite their serpentine appearance, Burton’s Legless Lizards fall into the lizard, Pygopodidae family, and are more closely related to geckos than they are snakes.

These lizards are extraordinary looking, with long, slender bodies growing up to over 30cm long. The most noteworthy feature of these lizards is their unique wedge-shaped snout, which tapers to a point. Upper body colours tend to be cream, yellow, brown or grey, with light-coloured bellies.
Common Scaly Foot legless lizard

Common Scaly Foot (Pygopus lepidopodus)

- Non-Venomous

Common scaly foot lizards are one of the country’s largest legless lizard species and share a closer relation to geckos than they do snakes – although their appearance means they are often mistaken for their serpentine relations!

These legless lizards grow to around 80cm and can be found in a variety of colours, including grey with black spots and a coppery brown colour with a grey tail. They are not venomous.
Water Dragon face close up

Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)

- Non-Venomous

The water dragon is Australia’s largest dragon lizard and can be found primarily in Victoria and Queensland. These lizards can sometimes look quite similar to the famous and beloved bearded dragon, but are not part of the same family and are considerably bigger in size.

These large dragon lizards are incredibly adept at climbing and swimming, using their powerful tails to guide them in the water and their sharp claws to navigate trees, rocks, and even fences.
Bearded Dragon close up of face and eye

Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata)

- Non-Venomous

Affectionately known as ‘beardies’ around the world, the bearded dragon is a member of the pogona family, which comprises eight recognised reptile species. Of these, the Eastern bearded dragon is perhaps the most well-known.

These phenomenal lizards make excellent pets and many families across the globe adore their beardies.
Lace Monitor - close up of lace monitor lizard on tree

Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)

- Non-Venomous

A well-recognised and considerably large lizard, the lace monitor is native to Australia and commonly found in eastern regions of the country. Also known as tree goannas, these big, dark, yellow-striped lizards are carnivorous and predominantly dwell in trees, coming down to hunt for food or to breed.

They are also part of the same family as the infamous Komodo dragon.
Three-Clawed Worm Skink face and small limbs

Three-Clawed Worm Skink (Anomalopus verreauxii)

- Non-Venomous

The three-clawed worm skink is a common sighting around Queensland and the Sunshine Coast. Much like Burton’s Legless Lizard, this skink appears entirely limbless – more like a snake than a lizard! However, as with many native skinks in the area, closer inspection of the three-clawed worm skink reveals four small limbs.

These lizards have a skink-like tongue and are completely harmless. You may find one or two in your garden, as these reptiles love to burrow into compost and garden clipping heaps.
Pink-Tongued Skink

Pink-Tongued Skink (Cyclodomorphus gerrardii)

- Non-Venomous

The pink-tongued skink grows to up to 45cm at maturity and has a slender body. Their tails are long, usually spanning the same length as their body. These lizards are usually a pale cream to light brown colour with dotted black bands across their backs. Males tend to be slightly larger, with broader heads, than females.

True to their name, they have pink tongues! However, they are born with a blue tongue that will change colour as they mature.

Sunshine Coast Snake Identification

The Sunshine Coast region, like many other places in Queensland, is renowned for its snake population. There are many different species of snake on the Sunshine Coast, not to many all the sub-species, and many homeowners – and even business owners – have come across these slippery reptiles on their premises, in places they are not expected to be. Considering the variety of venomous snake species on the Sunshine Coast, it can be highly beneficial to be informed about the various snakes you may encounter.

Identifying a snake is no easy task, even for avid snake enthusiasts. When meeting a snake, they will likely try to flee or hide, which can make successfully identifying it difficult. In some cases, certain snakes can become defensive, rearing up or flattening out their body as they face off a would-be threat. This can also make identifying a snake tricky.

If you should come across a snake in your garden, at home, or within your workplace, it’s always best to call in trained professionals like Snake Rescue Sunny Coast. Our experience and training give us the right tools to not only accurately identify the snake, but also safely remove it from your property and relocate it to the wild. Never approach a snake you don’t recognise as there are many species of snake on the Sunshine Coast that are poisonous, but that can be confused for other, similar-looking non-venomous snakes in the area.

Contact The Snake Rescue Team

Service Areas

Areas Covered: Caloundra to Noosa; Beerwah to Pomona;
Maleny to Mapleton and all areas in between.

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