Blue-tongued Lizard Blue Tongued Skink

The Blue-tongued lizard is best known for its large bright blue tongue, which it sticks out to scare off predators. It is a stout, slow-moving reptile with a cylindrical body, smooth, scaled skin, short stumpy legs, and long tail. It is the largest member of the skink family. In the USA, where this Australian lizard is a popular pet, it is often called the Blue Tongued Skink—which is actually its correct colloquial name. Its scientific name is Tiliqua scincoides scincoides.

Blue Tongued Lizard Description What Do Blue-Tongue Lizards Look Like?

Blue-tongued lizards range in size from 21cm (8in) to 60cm (24in) and weigh 283-510g (10-18oz). Their body colours vary by species. For example, the Eastern Blue tongue is usually grey with brown stripes across its back and tail. While the Shingleback or Stumpy-Tailed lizard is dark brown and has a shorter stumpy tail. The blue-tongued lizard has a sacrificial tail. If grabbed by its tail, it may shed its to escape. The stump heals quickly, and a new, usually shorter, tail regrows in its place.

The blue-tongued lizard is known for its unique defence strategy: when threatened, it puffs up its body, hisses, opens its large pink mouth and sticks out its bright blue tongue to deter predators. If this posturing fails, it will flatten its body to appear larger and less palatable to its adversary.

The blue-tongued lizard is cold-blooded and starts its day by basking in the sun to warm up before setting out in search of food. When the weather turns colder, this lizard will retreat beneath logs, rocks or other crevices for shelter. During the winter months, instead of hibernating like other creatures, blue-tongued lizards enter a state known as 'brumation', where their metabolism slows considerably. However, they are still active and may even go foraging on warmer winter days.

Blue-tongued lizards quickly get used to the presence of humans and go about their business undisturbed. They are not dangerous to humans. But if provoked, they will bite hard and will let go quickly. The worst damage a blue-tongued lizard can inflict on a human is a few minor puncture wounds and some bruising.

Blue Tongued Lizard Habitat Where Do the Blue Tongued Lizards Live?

Photo: Blue-tongued Skink Habitat

Blue-tongued lizards live in grasslands, woodlands, and forests in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. They prefer areas with plenty of hiding places, such as tall grass, low shrubs, logs, rocks, and leaf litter. They are often found in suburban gardens and parks. Blue-tongue lizards are territorial, living in a fixed area, usually about a hectare in size, and rarely venturing out of their territory. At night they seek shelter in logs, leaf litter, or other ground debris. They may also seek refuge in the abandoned burrow of another animal.

Blue Tongued Lizard Diet What Do Blue Tongued Lizards Eat?

Photo: Blue-tongued Skink feeding

Blue-tongued lizards are foraging omnivores, mostly scavenging for insects, snails, slugs, baby snakes, fruits and berries. They use their eyesight and a unique adaptation known as the Jacobson's Organ on the roof of their mouth to help them detect their prey. With powerful jaws designed to crush hard-shelled creatures such as beetles and snails, they don't need to chew their meal and will simply chomp on their food before swallowing it whole. The blue-tongued lizard stores excess fat and water in its tail. So, the loss of its tail during lean times can result in its death by starvation.

Blue Tongued Lizard Reproduction Blue Tongued Skink Babies

Photo: Pregnant Blue-tongued Skink

Blue-tongued lizards mate between September and November. During this time, male blue-tongued lizards will actively compete with each other to mate with a female. The female does not lay eggs but gives birth to live young about three to five months after mating. A litter typically contains about ten lizards, who are fully functional when born and set out on their own shortly after that. It takes about three years for a blue-tongued lizard to reach adulthood, and it can live up to twenty years.

Blue Tongued Lizard Predators and Threats What Kills Blue Tongued Lizards?

Photo: Blue-tongued Skink attacked by a snake

The blue-tongued lizard predators include dingoes, kookaburras, snakes, foxes, and dogs. Feral cats are one of its most ferocious predators.

Though they are usually safe from humans, many blue-tongued lizards are accidentally run over by lawnmowers or cars. Additionally, poison bait used to exterminate snails and slugs can be fatal if ingested by the lizard when it eats the poisoned snail.

Is the Blue Tongued Lizard Endangered? Conservation Status

Most species of blue-tongued lizards are common throughout Australia. However, the Pygmy, Western Blue Tongued and Central Blue Tongued lizards are classified as vulnerable.

It is illegal to capture a wild blue-tongued lizard. But it is legal to purchase a pet lizard from a pet shop.