Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard

The Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides) is a subspecies of large Skink which is common throughout Eastern Australia, often found in bushland and suburban areas where conditions are suitable. They are known as blue-tongues because their tongue ranges from bright to dark blue, and they have a habit of displaying it prominently and hissing loudly when disturbed.

The Blue-tongued Lizard is a stout and slow lizard that grows up to 300-600mm (11.81-23.62 inches) in length, with brown to grey scales and a barred pattern across the body and tail. The underside is usually pale. Blue-tongued Lizards are popular as Pets and can live for up to 30 years in captivity. They give birth to live young, between six, to a record twenty per litter. The young consume the egg sac immediately after birth. They resemble the adult form closely. There are several other types of blue-tongued lizard, genus Tiligua, such as the Northern Blue Tongued Skink and the Shingleback or Stump Scaled Skink.