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Description

Species Name: Blue-tongued Lizard

Species Latin Name: Tiliqua scincoides

Also Known As: Common Blue-tongued Lizard, Common Bluetongue

Native To: Australia, the Tanimbar and Babar islands in the Maluku Province of Indonesia

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Photo Taken At: N/A

Size (length): 33 - 60cm (13.0 – 23.6 inches)

Weight: 493 - 1000g (17.4 – 35.3 ounces)

Lifespan: 9 - 30 years

Diet: Omnivore

Lifestyle: Diurnal, ovoviviparous

Reproductive Season: August - October

Pregnancy Duration: 3 - 4 months

Births per pregnancy: 1 – 25 young

Age of Sexual Maturity: 561 – 590 days

Sub Species:

Eastern Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides), Located in southern/eastern Australia, population trend: Likely Stable

Northern Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia), Located in Northern Australia, population trend: Likely Declining

Tanimbar Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides chimaera), Located in Maluku Province, Indonesia

Closely Related Species:

Adelaide Pygmy Blue-tongued Skink also known as Pygmy Bluetongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis); located north east of Adelaide city from Kapunda in the Light River valley, conservation status: Endangered

Indonesian Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua gigas), located in the island of New Guinea and other surrounding islands

Centralian Blue-tongued Skink also known as Centralian Blue-tongue (Tiliqua multifasciata), located in the far west corner of New South Wales in Australia, conservation status: Least Concern

Blotched Blue-tongue Lizard also known as Southern Blue-tongued Lizard and Blotched Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua nigrolutea), located in south-eastern Australia, conservation status: Least Concern

Western Blue-tongued Lizard also known as Western Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua nigrolutea), located in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia, conservation status: Least Concern

Shingleback Lizard also known as Bobtail Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa), located in Australia, conservation status: Least Concern

Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skink (Tiliqua sp.), one of the least understood species of blue-tongued skink, has yet to be scientifically classified

Description:

Blue-tongued Lizards are described as large terrestrial lizards that can grow up to 60cm (23.6 inches) long and can weigh up to 1kg (35.3 ounces). These lizards have stout bodies with short legs, the colouration of their scales will vary but they will generally have a banded pattern across their bodies. As the name implies they have a tongue that can vary from a blue-violet colour to cobalt blue, due to its blue tongue and its curious nature this is a popular animal to be kept as a pet in western countries.

Generally the adults will appear more gray in colouration with their scales, their heads may be a pale brown with alternating streaks or blotches of brown and cream along their backs. The colouration may be more vibrant in juveniles although the colouration will become more dull and uniform as they reach maturity. Their skin is rather smooth and is covered by overlapping scales that give their skin a fish like appearance/texture.

It is believed that these animals are a mimic of some species of the Death Adder snake (Acanthophis) which share some of this lizards range of habitat, the Blue-tongued Lizard and Death Adders have similar colourations and the short legs of the lizard help make it look more like a snake.

Diet:

These animals are omnivorous and will feed on a variety of different foods. For plant related matter they will feed on a variety of different wildflowers, native fruits, berries, and fungi. It is likely be but not confirmed whether or not they will eat other foliage around them as well. In terms of prey animals the Blue-tongue Lizard will eat insects, snails, young ground-nesting birds, rodents, small mammals, and carrion. In rare cases these animals can also eat native frogs such as the striped march frog (Limnodynastes peronii)

Behaviour:

Blue-tongued Skinks are relatively popular as pets as they show little aggression and are generally very docile creatures that tame easily. They are usually quite shy and secretive animals that rarely stray far from their shelters, that can be at times curious of their surroundings. If the lizard feels like they are threatened they will open its mouth to stick out its blue tongue, it will then puff up their bodies and hiss as a defensive mechanism to make them appear larger than they really are. These lizards have the ability to lose their tail in a confrontation which can regrow at a later point.

Mating will generally occur during the months of August to October although lizards of this species will tend to reproduce slightly earlier than the ones in more southern locations, they prefer to mate during the dry periods of the year. These animals are ovoviviparous which means that the female after mating will have eggs form inside of her that will later hatch inside of her body where they will fully develop, approximately 3 – 4 months after mating the mother will live birth approximately 1 – 25 young. The young will sexually mature after approximately 561 – 590 days of being born.

Threats:

Currently this species is listed as least concern, the sub species further up north are likely declining in numbers where as the sub species located elsewhere in Australia have a stable population. Despite this this species do face a number of threats that could potentially impact their numbers in the future. As these animals can be located in rural as well as suburban areas they can be injured by pet dogs and cats, hit by motor vehicles, injured by garden equipment, or have their habitats disrupted by property owners. Generally when it comes to the pet trade it is prohibited for wild specimens of this lizard to be traded internationally, generally you will only see captive bred specimens being sold legally in the pet trade.

Another major issue this species faces are from the introduced species of Cane Toads (Rhinella marina) which are deemed an invasive species. Cane Toads are more widely distributed along the northern tropical regions of Australia, it is believed their widespread population has significantly contributed to the decline of numbers of this lizard further north. Cane toads possess chemical defenses and are naturally poisonous to predators including that of the Blue-tongued lizard. There have been efforts to manage the populations of the invasive Cane Toads, some methods being more brutal and bizarre than others. All methods attempted so far have proven to be ineffective. Thankfully it appears where the Cane Toads are not present the numbers of this lizard appear to be stable, though with efforts to reduce the numbers of cane toads being ineffective it is unclear what the future may hold for this species.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiliqua_…

Related Species Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-ton…

Animal Diversity: animaldiversity.org/accounts/T…

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library: ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsh…

Bakyard Buddies: backyardbuddies.org.au/backyar…

Description

Species Name: Blue-tongued Lizard

Species Latin Name: Tiliqua scincoides

Also Known As: Common Blue-tongued Lizard, Common Bluetongue

Native To: Australia, the Tanimbar and Babar islands in the Maluku Province of Indonesia

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Photo Taken At: N/A

Size (length): 33 - 60cm (13.0 – 23.6 inches)

Weight: 493 - 1000g (17.4 – 35.3 ounces)

Lifespan: 9 - 30 years

Diet: Omnivore

Lifestyle: Diurnal, ovoviviparous

Reproductive Season: August - October

Pregnancy Duration: 3 - 4 months

Births per pregnancy: 1 – 25 young

Age of Sexual Maturity: 561 – 590 days

Sub Species:

Eastern Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides), Located in southern/eastern Australia, population trend: Likely Stable

Northern Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia), Located in Northern Australia, population trend: Likely Declining

Tanimbar Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides chimaera), Located in Maluku Province, Indonesia

Closely Related Species:

Adelaide Pygmy Blue-tongued Skink also known as Pygmy Bluetongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis); located north east of Adelaide city from Kapunda in the Light River valley, conservation status: Endangered

Indonesian Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua gigas), located in the island of New Guinea and other surrounding islands

Centralian Blue-tongued Skink also known as Centralian Blue-tongue (Tiliqua multifasciata), located in the far west corner of New South Wales in Australia, conservation status: Least Concern

Blotched Blue-tongue Lizard also known as Southern Blue-tongued Lizard and Blotched Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua nigrolutea), located in south-eastern Australia, conservation status: Least Concern

Western Blue-tongued Lizard also known as Western Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua nigrolutea), located in Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia, conservation status: Least Concern

Shingleback Lizard also known as Bobtail Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa), located in Australia, conservation status: Least Concern

Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skink (Tiliqua sp.), one of the least understood species of blue-tongued skink, has yet to be scientifically classified

Description:

Blue-tongued Lizards are described as large terrestrial lizards that can grow up to 60cm (23.6 inches) long and can weigh up to 1kg (35.3 ounces). These lizards have stout bodies with short legs, the colouration of their scales will vary but they will generally have a banded pattern across their bodies. As the name implies they have a tongue that can vary from a blue-violet colour to cobalt blue, due to its blue tongue and its curious nature this is a popular animal to be kept as a pet in western countries.

Generally the adults will appear more gray in colouration with their scales, their heads may be a pale brown with alternating streaks or blotches of brown and cream along their backs. The colouration may be more vibrant in juveniles although the colouration will become more dull and uniform as they reach maturity. Their skin is rather smooth and is covered by overlapping scales that give their skin a fish like appearance/texture.

It is believed that these animals are a mimic of some species of the Death Adder snake (Acanthophis) which share some of this lizards range of habitat, the Blue-tongued Lizard and Death Adders have similar colourations and the short legs of the lizard help make it look more like a snake.

Diet:

These animals are omnivorous and will feed on a variety of different foods. For plant related matter they will feed on a variety of different wildflowers, native fruits, berries, and fungi. It is likely be but not confirmed whether or not they will eat other foliage around them as well. In terms of prey animals the Blue-tongue Lizard will eat insects, snails, young ground-nesting birds, rodents, small mammals, and carrion. In rare cases these animals can also eat native frogs such as the striped march frog (Limnodynastes peronii)

Behaviour:

Blue-tongued Skinks are relatively popular as pets as they show little aggression and are generally very docile creatures that tame easily. They are usually quite shy and secretive animals that rarely stray far from their shelters, that can be at times curious of their surroundings. If the lizard feels like they are threatened they will open its mouth to stick out its blue tongue, it will then puff up their bodies and hiss as a defensive mechanism to make them appear larger than they really are. These lizards have the ability to lose their tail in a confrontation which can regrow at a later point.

Mating will generally occur during the months of August to October although lizards of this species will tend to reproduce slightly earlier than the ones in more southern locations, they prefer to mate during the dry periods of the year. These animals are ovoviviparous which means that the female after mating will have eggs form inside of her that will later hatch inside of her body where they will fully develop, approximately 3 – 4 months after mating the mother will live birth approximately 1 – 25 young. The young will sexually mature after approximately 561 – 590 days of being born.

Threats:

Currently this species is listed as least concern, the sub species further up north are likely declining in numbers where as the sub species located elsewhere in Australia have a stable population. Despite this this species do face a number of threats that could potentially impact their numbers in the future. As these animals can be located in rural as well as suburban areas they can be injured by pet dogs and cats, hit by motor vehicles, injured by garden equipment, or have their habitats disrupted by property owners. Generally when it comes to the pet trade it is prohibited for wild specimens of this lizard to be traded internationally, generally you will only see captive bred specimens being sold legally in the pet trade.

Another major issue this species faces are from the introduced species of Cane Toads (Rhinella marina) which are deemed an invasive species. Cane Toads are more widely distributed along the northern tropical regions of Australia, it is believed their widespread population has significantly contributed to the decline of numbers of this lizard further north. Cane toads possess chemical defenses and are naturally poisonous to predators including that of the Blue-tongued lizard. There have been efforts to manage the populations of the invasive Cane Toads, some methods being more brutal and bizarre than others. All methods attempted so far have proven to be ineffective. Thankfully it appears where the Cane Toads are not present the numbers of this lizard appear to be stable, though with efforts to reduce the numbers of cane toads being ineffective it is unclear what the future may hold for this species.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiliqua_…

Related Species Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-ton…

Animal Diversity: animaldiversity.org/accounts/T…

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Library: ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsh…

Bakyard Buddies: backyardbuddies.org.au/backyar…