Western Beauty

Artist: Steven Sass
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Western Beauty

The Western Blue tongue lizard Tiliqua occipitalis is listed as a threatened species due to the substantial loss of mallee habitat across its range in inland, southern Australia.

It took three weeks, endless hours of searching by foot and car, to find this one animal! In the end, we found a small number of these animals, so it hoped they are secure in this location for the time being!

Due to its rarity, I will only say that it was photographed ‘somewhere’ in arid western NSW, AU.

For better viewing, click on ‘view larger’

Western Beauty belongs to the following groups:

All That Is Nature, Animal Kingdom, Australian Landmarks and Icons, Endangered Species, Extreme Heat, Happy Haven, Mother Nature's Finest, National Parks of the World, Reptiles and Amphibians, Rural NSW and Wild Nature Photography & Writing

naturelover, 4 months ago

So well worth the time and patience- the colours and detail are superb-brilliant shot!!
MissA, 4 months ago

He looks very angry! Great work Steve!!!!!
JARutherford, 4 months ago

Great work. Must have been satisfying having spent so much time looking for it!
Steven Sass in reply to naturelover’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks for the comment
Steven Sass in reply to MissA’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks MissA. You know I love lizards!
Steven Sass in reply to JARutherford’s comment, 4 months ago

Sure was, great fun really! Thanks for the comment
SharonD, 4 months ago

Great image Steven. Good detail.
hotfudge, 4 months ago

Fantastic, aren’t they just the most magnificent little creature, with the most vivid blue tongue :)
Steven Sass in reply to SharonD’s comment, 4 months ago

thanks Sharon
Noelene Davies, 4 months ago

Wonderful find and capture Steven, I do hope they don’t become extinct as a lot of birds, native animals and reptiles are.
Scott Robertson, 4 months ago

Brilliant Capture! Lets hope these creatures are protected and begin to flourish once again.
Mette Spange, 4 months ago

Yeaahhh Steve..that’s a beauty!!! Its amazing..and so sad that this wonderful lizard is so rare! Thanks for sharing this photo with us!!!
Jocelyn Hyers, 4 months ago

wonderful capture ..
Bevsimages, 4 months ago

Lovely image, patience rewarded… x ;))
Mel Spittall, 4 months ago

Awsome capture!!! definately would have taken some patience!! Love that tounge!
Matt Tietgen, 4 months ago

Great catch Steve! I hope they stay safe where they are.
Rachael Taylor, 4 months ago

Another amazing catch Steve! Lovely detail and action.Congrats on the feature!
Steven Sass in reply to SharonD’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Sharon. Appreciate your comment
Steven Sass in reply to hotfudge’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Hotfudge. I agree, the tongue is great!
Steven Sass in reply to Noelene Davies’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Noelene. I agree, who knows, perhaps they have slipped under the threshold and its just a matter of time? Time will tell I guess?
Kristina K, 4 months ago

i used to have apet blue tongue, they are great pets. you got a great shot.
Steven Sass in reply to Scott Robertson’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Scott. This population is now protected in national park managed land, so hopefully!
Steven Sass in reply to Mette Spange’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Mette. Good to hear from you again! My pleasure!
Steven Sass in reply to Jocelyn Hyers’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Jocelyn
Steven Sass in reply to Bevsimages’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Bev. Hope you are feeling better now?
Steven Sass in reply to Kristina K’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Kristina. Yes, the more common eastern blue tongue make great pets now that you can keep them (with a licence of course!).
Steven Sass in reply to Rachael Taylor’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Rachael. 3 features in as many days, am pretty pleased with that!
Steven Sass in reply to Mel Spittall’s comment, 4 months ago

Hi Mel, great to hear from you. Lots of walking and driving, but saw lots of cool things in the mean time, so it was damn fuN!
Steven Sass in reply to Matt Tietgen’s comment, 4 months ago

Thanks Matt
Alvin-San [vcr], 4 months ago

Eye LOVE this shot and it IS a fab capture; but, Eye hafta tell ya .. Eye BUSTED out laughing the instant Eye saw his picture: he looks to me as if he just drank a a liter of HOT -sauce, whilst believing it was orange juice!!

THIS lizard is up-SET.

—Tears comin’ out my Eyes … LOL

Thank you
Trudi ~, 4 months ago

Great capture Steve,he looks pretty cross about something!
Larissa Brea, 4 months ago

Great capture!
photo4sale, 3 months ago

fantastic capture.
Robert Elliott, 3 months ago

wonderful capture Steven
Steven Sass in reply to Trudi ~’s comment, 3 months ago

thanks Trudi. He wasnt happy being found was my guess ;-)
Steven Sass in reply to Larissa Brea’s comment, 3 months ago

Thanks Larissa, appreciate your comment
Steven Sass in reply to photo4sale’s comment, 3 months ago

many thanks
Steven Sass in reply to Robert Elliott’s comment, 3 months ago

Thank you Robert
salsbells69, 3 months ago

Good Work steven on finding one for a start..getting a good image..well done too.hopefully they stay safe.
paknpak, 3 months ago

cool shot!
Steven Sass in reply to salsbells69’s comment, 3 months ago

Thanks salsbells69, me too!
Steven Sass in reply to paknpak’s comment, 3 months ago

thanks paknpak
GailD, 3 months ago

Great detail in this fellow Steve. Super image.
Stephanie Johnson, 2 months ago

What a cute lizard! Great timing too!
Steven Sass in reply to GailD’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Gail, appreciate your comment
Steven Sass in reply to Stephanie Johnson’s comment, 2 months ago

Thanks Stephanie, appreciate your comment.
Steve Bullock, about 1 month ago

Nice one mate, they seem to be more aggressive then the other species!
Steven Sass in reply to Steve Bullock’s comment, about 1 month ago

Thanks Steve, yes, I think you are right
JOHAN (photowa..., about 1 month ago

CONGRATS ON YOUR FEATURE IN ALL THAT’S NATURE…….....JOHAN
SandraRos, about 1 month ago

Congratulations on your feature ! !
CarolM, 27 days ago

Very good shot. First time seeing one. Great color and love that blue tongue.
Steven Sass in reply to JOHAN (photowalker) NIJENHUIS’s comment, 22 days ago

Thanks Johan
Steven Sass in reply to SandraRos’s comment, 22 days ago

Thanks so much
Steven Sass in reply to CarolM’s comment, 22 days ago

Thanks Carol