REPTILIA: SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE: Tiliqua

Tiliqua scincoides (White ex Shaw, 1790)

Eastern blue-tongue skink

Photos & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

Range: Incredibly wide-ranging through most of eastern Australia and the upper third of the Northern Territory, far northern Western Australia, and southeastern South Australia.

Diagnosis: A grayish to tan lizard with 7 to 9 wavy darker crossbands. Anterior temporal scales are much larger than the other temporal scales.

Description: Blue tongues are among the world’s largest skinks, reaching a length of 45 cm/18 inches or more.  

Natural History: This familiar Australian species is still common even in suburban Sydney, where it enters gardens and feeds on snails, spiders and large insects. They also readily accept carrion, flowers and fruits. Though they are very stout lizards with tiny legs, they are capable of moving quite quickly when frightened.

Blue tongues are generally easily tamed and become quite gentle when handled. When frightened, however, they raise their heads, open the large mouth, and evert the broad, cobalt blue tongue.

           
Bluetongues dwell in forests, woodlands, grasslands and sandy areas. Though common in so many habitats, they become gradually more scarce as habitats become more arid.

Reproduction:  Tiliqua are live-bearing lizards that produce up to 25 large young.

Taxonomy & Relationships: Bluetongues, pink tongues and pinecone skinks were long placed in separate genera, but recent work, largely by Dr. Glen Shea of the University of Sydney, has placed all these large species into the single genus Tiliqua.

Variation: A very variable species, with a range of dorsal coloring. The lateral bands may be black, dark brown, reddish, orange or tan. Two subspecies are generally recognized, T. scincoides scincoides, with vary broad dorsal bands from the south and eastern range, and T. s. intermedia, with narrow lateral crossbands, from northern Australia.

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen:

Literature: Click on book to order a copy

Cogger, Harold. 1999. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 6th edition. Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN: 0-88359-048-4.

Cogger, Harold. 1995. Reptiles and amphibians of Australia. 5th edition. Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN: 0-8014-2739-8.

Ehmann, Harald. 1992. Encyclopedia of Australian animals: Reptiles. Angus & Robertson. ISBN: 0-207-17379-6.

Greer, Allen. 1989. The biology & evolution of Australian lizards. Surrey Beatty & Sons. ISBN: 0-949324-21-3.

Hoser, Raymond. 1989. Australian reptiles & frogs. Pierson & Co. ISBN: 0-947068-08-2. 

Smith, Tamara, K. Kardong and V. Bels. 2000. Prey capture behavior in the blue-tongued skink, Tiliqua scincoides. Journal of Herpetology 33(3):362-369.

Sprackland, Robert. 1992. Giant Lizards. TFH Publications. ISBN: 0-86622-634-6.

Swan, Gerry, 1982. A field guide to the snakes and lizards of New South Wales. Three Sisters Productions, Winmalee, NSW. ISBN 0-9590203-9.