Blue-tongued skink
Western Blauzungenskink ( Tiliqua occipitalis ), Western Australia.
The Blauzungenskinke or bluetongue ( Tiliqua ) are a genus of Squamata.
Features
Blauzungenskinke are medium -sized to very large, powerfully built skinks. The largest species reach total lengths of up to 55 cm, the tail length is in most species about the head-body length. A characteristic feature of the genus is a large blue tongue. The head is cone-shaped, the body is cylindrical, the scales in most species smooth. They have four short legs with five equally divided toes. The lower eyelid is movable. Ear holes are provided.
Occurrence
6 of the 7 species inhabiting Australia, with a species is found also in New Guinea and some Southeast Asian islands. The used of Blauzungenskinken habitats include semi-deserts, scrubland, open woods, and rare, moist forests. Blauzungenskinke penetrate regularly in urban areas.
Way of life
Blauzungenskinke are diurnal ground dwellers, which move very slowly. As hiding places they use, among other cavities under fallen tree trunks, dense vegetation and burrows. They eat flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, arthropods, snails, eggs and small vertebrates. If you feel threatened Blauzungenskinke, they threaten with inflated body, hoist and show their blue tongue.
Reproduction
Blauzungenskinke are ovoviviparous, that give birth to live young. In some species the female carries up to 25 young.
Species
Currently 7 types are distinguished in the genus Tiliqua:
- Zwergblauzungenskink ( T. adelaidensis )
- Riesenblauzungenskink ( T. gigas)
- T. multifasciata
- Black Yellow Blauzungenskink ( T. nigrolutea )
- Western Blauzungenskink ( T. occipitalis )
- Pinecone lizard ( T. rugosa )
- Common Blauzungenskink ( T. scincoides )