Australia is a country that is home to many species of snakes, including some of the world’s most venomous. This mysterious creature is also endemic to the region.
If you look at the creature below, you might be surprised by its tongue. Can you guess what it is? (See the image below) The answer may surprise you!
It looks like a snake but is not a snake.
In fact, this is the Common Scaly-foot Lizard.
When people first glance at it, they might think of a snake. However, many are puzzled when they see its unusual tongue, as snake tongues are typically forked.
The creature above… is not a snake! It is, in fact, a species of lizard (which is, of course, non-venomous) known as the Common Scaly-foot Lizard (scientific name: Pygopus lepidopodus), a lizard species native to Australia.
These lizards are primarily crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dusk, and can also be active at night if daytime temperatures are too high. Their preferred habitats are tall grasslands and open woodlands.
The tongue of this lizard is thick and fleshy, which helps it clean its eyes by licking them. Its legs have evolved into stubs, and it feeds on invertebrates, spiders, and small lizards, and it even enjoys eating bananas.
