Blue-tongued Lizard

(Tiliqua scincoides)
Also known as blue-tongue, blue-tongued skink, eastern blue-tongued lizard

Live: Found across Australia, often the body colour indicates the region or habitat in which it lives.

Habitat: Blue-tongues live in a wide variety of habitats, including coastal heath, forest, woodland, mountains and grasslands. 

Diet: In the wild the blue-tongue eats a variety of insects, snails, carrion, wild flowers, native fruits and berries. In captivity they are fed live insects, meat, soft or grated fruit and vegetables.
Feeding is reduced over winter, unless the lizards remain active. A heat lamp is provided during winter. Overhead enclosure lighting is a specific UV wavelength required for reptile health.

Gestation: Approximately 3 months followed by live births in summer.

Breeding: Mating occurs in spring. These reptiles do not lay eggs. On average 10 young are born per litter. Adults do not care for their young - they must fend for themselves from birth. Maturity is around 2 to 4 years. They can live to 20 years in captivity.

Status: Common but protected

General: Named for the colour of its tongue, this is a large ground-living lizard. Threat displays involve hissing and protruding the tongue from its widely-opened mouth.

Native predators include snakes, goannas and birds of prey. Cats, foxes and humans also prey on these lizards.