Blue-tongued skink

_Blue tongue lizard redirects here._

**Blue-tongued skinks** make up the Australasian genus, ***Tiliqua***, which has some of the largest members of the skink family (Scincidae). They are also called **blue-tongued lizards** or simply **blue-tongues**, **shinglebacks** or the **sleepy lizard** in Australia. The main feature of the genus is a large blue tongue that can be used to scare away enemies.

## Distribution

Blue-tongued skinks are closely related to the genera _Cyclodomorphus_ and _Hemisphaeriodon_. All species are found on mainland Australia except _Tiliqua gigas_ which lives in New Guinea and various islands of Indonesia. One subspecies of _Tiliqua scincoides_ is also found on several small Indonesian islands between Australia and New Guinea. _Tiliqua nigrolutea_ is the only species in Tasmania. With the exception of the pygmy blue-tongue, they are large lizards which can grow up to 45 cm total length. They are light-bodied, short-limbed, broad with a distinct head and dull teeth.

## Ecology

Most species are diurnal ground-foraging omnivores, feeding on insects, gastropods, flowers, fruits and berries. The pygmy blue-tongue however mainly eats arthropods. The skinks give birth to live young. The litter sizes ranging from 1–4 in the pygmy blue-tongue and shingleback to 5–24 in the eastern and northern blue-tongues.

## Species and subspecies

- _Tiliqua adelaidensis_, (Adelaide) Pygmy Blue-tongued Skink
- _Tiliqua gigas_, Indonesian Blue-tongued Skink
    - _Tiliqua gigas evanescens_, Merakue Blue-tongued Skink
    - _Tiliqua gigas keyensis_, Key Island Blue-tongued Skink
- _Tiliqua_ sp., Irian Jaya Blue-tongued Skink
- _Tiliqua multifasciata_, Centralian Blue-tongued Skink
- _Tiliqua nigrolutea_, Blotched Blue-tongued Skink
- _Tiliqua occipitalis_, Western Blue-tongued Skink
- _Tiliqua rugosa_, Shingleback (or Sleepy Lizard)
    - _Tiliqua rugosa rugosa_, Common Shingleback
    - _Tiliqua rugosa aspera_, Eastern Shingleback
    - _Tiliqua rugosa palarra_, Shark Bay Shingleback
    - _Tiliqua rugosa konowi_, Rottnest Island Shingleback
- _Tiliqua scincoides_, Australian Blue-tongued Skink
    - _Tiliqua scincoides scincoides_, Eastern Blue-tongued Skink
    - _Tiliqua scincoides intermedia_, Northern Blue-tongued Skink
    - _Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea_, Tanimbar Blue-tongued Skink

## References

- (2006): Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered _Leiolopisma_ skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. _Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution_ **39**(2): 503–511. <small></small> (HTML abstract)
- (1988): Mate fidelity in an Australian lizard _Trachydosaurus rugosus_ (Scincidae). _Copeia_ **1987**(3): 749-757.
- (1990): Comparison of displaced and retained partners in a monogamous lizard _Tiliqua rugosa_. _Australian Wildlife Research_ **17**: 135-140.
- (1996): A prey record of the Eastern Blue-tongue _Tiliqua scincoides_ for the common brown snake _Pseudonaja textilis_. _Monitor _ **8**(3): 155.

## Other websites

- Bluetongue fact file
- Blue-tongued Lizards in New South Wales
- Operation Bluetongue - Citizen Science study project  at UniSA
- Site devoted exclusively to blue-tongued skinks