Mycophagy in the larger bodied skinks of the genera 'Tiliqua' and 'Egernia': are there implications for ecosystem health?

The larger bodied skink of the genera 'Tikiqua' (blue-tongued and shingle-back lizards) and 'Egernia' may be contributing to the maintenance of ecosystem health by dispersing fungle spores that form symbiotic relationships with most terrestrial plant species. We observed an Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard 'Tiliqua scincoides' digging for fungi in a garden bed, which prompted us to examine the literature on the consumption of fungi by skinks. Our observation, together with a previous record of 'Tiliqua nigrolutea' having consumed the fruiting bodies of truffle-like fungi (Webb and Simpson 1985), indicates that blue-tongued lizards can detect the presence of subterranean fungi and will readily eat them.