Eastern Brown Snake
The Eastern Brown Snake is active by day, especially on warm sunny days where it will bask in the sun. Its diet consists mainly of small mammals, such as rodents, birds and other small reptiles. Breeding takes place in spring with a clutch of up to 25 eggs produced in late spring or early summer. Although their life span is unknown, they have been recorded to live as long as 7 years in captivity. Although it is considered the world's second most venomous land snake, they will always try to avoid a confrontation with humans if possible.
Painted Dragon
The Painted Dragon is often observed at Taperoo Dunes basking on pathways, absorbing heat to regulate its body temperature. Adopting a sit and wait hunting technique, it uses its keen vision to detect its prey by movement. Its diet predominantly consists of insects, but it also eats some vegetation. It can appear in a number of different colour combinations, but males exhibit a bright blue flush during breeding. Their lifespan is generally only one year as at the end of its reproduction cycle nearly all breeding adults will die.
Shingleback (Sleepy) Lizard
The Shingleback has a heavily armoured body and a wide, stumpy tail that resembles its head. It is not very agile so its prey is mostly slow-moving, and it also consumes a wide variety of plants. When threatened, a Shingleback will open its mouth wide and stick out its broad blue tongue which contrasts vividly with its pink mouth. As it does not produce its own body heat, it can often be seen basking in the sun. During cold weather it remains inactive, buried deep in its shelter, drawing upon fat reserves which are stored in its tail.
