Northern Collared Delma Delma tincta
What do they look like ? Small , dull brown , legless lizards that look like snakes . They are not poisonous . They reach about 40 cm long , The head may be dark with pale bands or collars , or plain like the body . They have a fleshy tongue , rather than forked , and ear openings in the side of the head . The tail is long – about three-quarters of the animal ’ s length . They can ‘ drop ’ the tail and regrow it , an escape strategy used by many lizards . They may make a squeaking noise when handled .
Where do they live ? Delmas live in forests and woodlands that have a continuous grassy ground layer of Kangaroo Grass , Black Speargrass and Spinifex . They may live in introduced pastures ( e . g . Indian Couch ) and rocky areas with sparse cover . They seem to avoid areas heavily invaded by weeds .
What do they need to live , eat and breed ? Northern Collared Delmas eat small invertebrates . They can be active day and night , frequently taking refuge under rocks and logs . They lay two eggs at a time , which they deposit in loose soil under rocks and logs , or in deep soil cracks or ant nests .
When might I see ( or hear ) them ? They are very secretive . If you do see them during the day , you will rarely get more than a fleeting glimpse . In open areas , they usually leap around as they try to flee .
What management actions affect this species ? Delmas require thick ground cover and litter for feeding and protection from predators such as kookaburras . Spell country to maintain vigorous native pastures and ground cover . If fire is used , patch burning allows some retention of leaf litter . Manage introduced weeds . Vegetation clearing , wildfire , overgrazing and urban development are all significant problems for delmas .
How do they benefit the land I manage ? Delmas help to regulate insect populations and prevent plagues of species that may affect grass health . They help in nutrient cycling , returning insect nutrients to the soil . In combination with the thousands of small insectivorous reptiles on any one property , delmas make an important contribution to land condition .
Similar species : Striped-tailed Delma ( Delma labialis ), is much larger and lives in a few coastal areas .
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