Jacky
Lizards: The gardens at Yallaroo have proved to
be a magnet for a wide range of wildlife. Lizards have found the rocks, stumps
and logs, which are scattered throughout our gardens, as ideal sites for
soaking up the sun. Jacky Lizards (Amphibolurus species) now occur in
large numbers throughout the gardens.
Jacky Lizards occur in southeast Australia from
South Australia along the coast and ranges to southeast Queensland. They reach
a length of about 20 centimetres (8 inches) from snout to tip of tail. The
body is nominally pale grey above with a narrow, pale, dark-edged lateral
stripe along the body. We have noticed that Jacky Lizards have the capacity to
change body colour to match the background. The image shows a lizard resting
on a pale paving stone. If the same lizard was resting on a burnt stump then
the body colour would be much darker. Jacky Lizards are active in spring and
summer and hibernate in the cooler months. At Yallaroo we have a range of
Jacky Lizards from small juveniles to fully-grown adults.