Bush Buds: Pink-tailed Worm-lizard

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About me:

Don’t get it wrong - the Pink-tailed Worm-lizard is a LIZARD, not a snake. Unlike a snake, the Pink-tailed Worm-lizard has eyelids and small hind-limb flaps. It is worm-like, with a dark-brown head which gradually merges with the pale grey or grey-brown body. The tail, nearly as long as its body, is pink or reddish-brown towards the tip, lending the species its name. It listed as vulnerable and occurs throughout south-eastern Australia in treeless native grasslands. 

There is a concentration of populations in the Canberra and Queanbeyan Region. Other populations have been recorded near Cooma, Yass, Bathurst, Albury and West Wyalong. The habitat of the lizards is largely confined to rocky landscapes. This rarely seen small lizard lives mostly underground in the burrows of certain types of ant nests, where it feeds on the eggs and larvae of the ants.

Threats:

The Pink-tailed Worm-lizard is threatened by the removal of rocks that can lead to less ant nests, the loss of vegetation cover by overgrazing, severe summer bushfires, encroachment by weeds, and predators including native birds as well as introduced animals such as cats

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Take a stand for Canberra’s nature by becoming a Bush Buddy with the Pink-tailed Worm-Lizard! Register to stay updated and receive an invitation to walk with an expert in your species' habitat!