Shingle-backed lizard is an Australian lizard that gets its name from the large pine-cone-shaped scales on the upper surfaces of its body. The head is wedge-shaped, and the body is stout and heavy. Shingle-backed lizards have short, stumpy tails that act as fat reservoirs during hibernation. Their color varies from yellowish to totally black, with many shades in between. Shingle-backed lizards grow to about 20 inches (50 centimeters) in length. When approached, they usually emit a loud hiss, exposing their bright blue tongues.