Blue-Tongued Skink

Tiliqua scincoides
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other name

Common Blue-Tongue, Eastern Blue-Tongue and Northern Blue-Tongue

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DESCRIPTION

Alternating pale and dark bands from shoulders to tail. Thick tail. Smooth scales. Short limbs with five short digits on each foot. Often has a stripe from eye to ear. Vivid blue tongue.

The Blue-Tongued Skink is one of Australia's most familiar lizards and can be found throughout most of the country. There are six subspecies of the genus Tiliqua, including the Western Blue-Tongue, the Southern Blue-Tongue, the Pygmy Blue-Tongue and the Central Blue-Tongue, the Shingleback Lizard and the Eastern-Blue Tongue (also known as the Northern Blue-Tongue) which is pictured above. Tiliqua scincoides scincoides occupies the eastern portion of the range and Tiliqua scincoides intermedia extends across the north. The skinks diet consists of both plant and animal material, including flowers, fruits foliage, snails, crickets and eggs. Blue-Tongued Skinks breed in summer time and give birth to litters of live young. Up to 18 young can be born at one time.