Shingleback lizard is an Australian lizard that gets its name from the large pine-cone-shaped scales on the upper surfaces of its body. Other common names for the lizard include shingleback skink, pinecone lizard, sleepy lizard, and bobtail. The lizard’s head is wedge-shaped, and its body is stout and heavy. Shinglebacks have short, stumpy tails that act as fat reservoirs during hibernation. Their color varies from yellowish to totally black, with many shades in between. Shinglebacks grow to about 20 inches (50 centimeters) in length. When approached, they usually emit a loud hiss, exposing their dark blue tongue and pink mouth.
