Scientific Name: Egernia major Despite their size, land mullets
are shy, nervous creatures that are not often seen. Often the
only indication of their presence is the rapid rustling of leaf
litter and the sight of a disappearing black tail as they run
for the nearest cover. Although it has a fishy name, the land
mullet is actually the largest member of the skink family of
lizards. Large adults can reach 50cm or more in total length.
The name comes from the smooth, shiny, black fish-like scales
that cover the body. Juvenile land mullets tend to be dark brown
and often have white or cream spots. An inhabitant of the
rainforest margins of coastal eastern Australia from Gosford,
New South Wales north to southeastern Queensland. They will
occasionally enter private gardens around their forest homes,
particularly if they are well vegetated. Juvenile land mullets
eat mostly insects and other invertebrates. As they mature, more
and more vegetable matter is consumed until, as adults, around
80% of the diet consists of