The shingleback skink, a type of this, has protruding scales that make it look like a pine cone
... A type of 
placenta very much like that of primitive mammals is formed between the mother 
and... [DOC] [TLE] The Shingleback Blue Tongue Skink - BlueTongueSkinks.NET [PAR] The Shingleback Blue Tongued Skink  (T. rugosa rugosa  Gray, 1825) This 
species has several nicknames including the stumpytail, bobtail, pinecone, and 
sleepy ...