Blue-tongued lizard

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iBlue-tongued lizard

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Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Family:	Scincidae
Genus:	Tiliqua

Western blue-tongued skink

Centralian blue-tongued skink from the Tanami desert

Blue-tongued lizards are one of the largest members of the skink family. As suggested by its name, its distinguishing characteristic is a blue tongue. There are six species of blue-tongues which occur in Australia. An insular subspecies of Tiliqua scincoides is found on several small Indonesian islands between Australia and New Guinea. A distinct species, Tiliqua gigas, occurs in various areas of Indonesia, particularly the island of New Guinea. There are four subspecies of the shingleback skink. All species, with the exception of pygmy blue-tongues, are relatively large (30-60 cm total length), heavy-bodied, short-limbed, broad with a distinct head, and short, tapered tail.

Tiliqua adelaidensis Pygmy Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua gigas gigas Indonesian Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua multifasciata Central Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua nigrolutea Blotched Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua occipitalis Western Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua rugosa Shingleback Skink
Tiliqua scincoides scincoides Eastern Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua scincoides intermedia Northern Blue-Tongued Skink
Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea Tanimbar Blue-Tongued Skink

These lizards occupy a range of habitats from desert, semi-arid savannah, woodland and temperate suburban areas through to tropical jungle. They are omnivorous, and may feed on berries, flowers and other plant material, fungi, insects, spiders, or other small animals, carrion, and are very partial to snails and slugs. They may grow up to 60 cm (depending on the species). Solitary for most of the year, mating occurs in September-November. Pair bonding may occur over successive years (Bull 1988). The young are born (live) 3-5 months after mating (December-April). Litters may have 5-18 individuals. Predators include kookaburras, raptors, and snakes (e.g. Pseudonaja textilis, Mulga snake) (Valentic 1996). Dogs and cats have also been known to attack bluetongues in a surburban environment. [1] When a blue-tongue is threatened it will face the threat opening its mouth wide, sticking out its blue tongue in an attempt to scare away the threat.

[edit] Captivity & Pet Care

The blotched and eastern blue-tongued lizards make great, low maintenance pets, and if hand-raised, have a great temperament. ^{[citation needed]} Some specimens have lived for thirty years in captivity. ^{[citation needed]} In Australia, it is illegal to be in possession of a Blue Tongued lizard without a Class 1 Reptile Keeper's License, as per the requirements of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. ^{[citation needed]}Obtaining a license is easy; on the other hand, possessing a skink without a license, or capturing one from the wild, can result in heavy fines and imprisonment. In the US none of the species require a permit to keep in captivity. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Trivia

The blue-tongued lizard serves as the mascot for the Brisbane Blue Tongues, an ice hockey team which plays in the AIHL.

A Hunter Valley company has started to produce beer, including ginger beer under the name "Bluetongue", and has sponsored the Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, home ground of the Central Coast Mariners FC.

[edit] References

Bull, C. M. 1988. Mate fidelity in an Australian lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus (Scincidae). Copeia 1987(3): 749-757.
Bull, C. M. 1990. Comparison of displaced and retained partners in a monogamous lizard Tiliqua rugosa. Australian Wildlife Research 17: 135-140.
Edwards A, and Jones S.M. 2004. Parturition in the blotched blue-tongued lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea, in captivity. Herpetofauna. 34 113-118
Edwards A. and Jones S.M. 2003. Mating behaviour in the blotched blue-tongued lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea, in captivity. Herpetofauna 33 60-64.
Edwards A., Jones S.M., and Wapstra, E. 2002. Multiennial reproduction in females of a viviparous skink, Tiliqua nigrolutea. Herpetologica 58 407-414.
Valentic, R. A. 1996. A prey record of the Eastern Blue-tongue Tiliqua scincoides for the common brown snake Pseudonaja textilis. Monitor. Journal of the Victorian Herpetelogical Society 8(3): 155.