Lexi Webster
Blue-tongued lizards are one of the largest lizards in Australia and are commonly found in backyards across the country. They are easily recognisable by their bright blue tongues and are considered friendly, gentle creatures. With a slow-moving nature, they are easy to observe and catch, making them popular pets. They are also valuable pest controllers, feeding on snails, insects, and other garden pests. Australia is home to six species of blue-tongued lizards, including the Eastern Blue-tongue, Northern Blue-tongue, Blotched Blue-tongue, and the Shingleback. These lizards are found in various regions, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Blue-tongued lizards, blue-tongues, blueys |
| Genus | Tiliqua |
| Species | Eastern Blue-tongue, Northern Blue-tongue, Blotched Blue-tongue, Shingleback, Pygmy Blue-tongue Skink |
| Size | Up to 60 cm long; Pygmy Blue-tongue is 90 mm long |
| Colour | Grey with brown or black stripes; Northern Blue-tongue is orangey-yellow with dark stripes |
| Habitat | Suburban backyards, open country with ground cover, savannahs, highlands |
| Diet | Plant matter, small animals, snails, beetles, caterpillars, crickets, dog food |
| Behaviour | Shy, slow-moving, become accustomed to humans, good pest controllers |
| Range | Widespread in south-eastern Australia, particularly NSW |
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What You'll Learn
Blue-tongued lizards are found in suburban backyards
Blue-tongued lizards are native to Australia and are commonly found in suburban backyards. They are the largest members of the skink family, characterised by their prominent blue tongues, which can be used as a warning to potential enemies. With their slow-moving nature and strong jaws, they feed on snails, slugs, caterpillars, and other slow-moving insects, making them excellent pest controllers in gardens.
These lizards are highly adaptable and feel at home in large backyards with plenty of shelter. Rockeries, horizontal pipes, and cavities under houses become their favourite hiding spots, while sunny paths and lawns provide ideal basking sites. They are known to live in the same place for many years, quickly becoming accustomed to human activity.
The Eastern Blue-tongue, one of the most common species, is found throughout New South Wales and south-eastern Australia. It is silvery-grey with dark brown or black bands across its back and tail. The Northern Blue-tongue, on the other hand, prefers the savannahs of Australia's tropical regions and has an orangey-yellow body with darker stripes.
Blue-tongued lizards are harmless to humans and pets, and it is illegal to catch and sell them or keep them as pets. They are valued for their pest control abilities, keeping the numbers of snails and plant-eating insects in check. While they may not be the fastest lizards, they are intelligent, recognising their home range and knowing where to find food, shelter, and water.
If you spot a blue-tongued lizard in your backyard, it is best to leave it be and live in harmony with this iconic Australian reptile. Providing them with hiding spots and ensuring their safety from pets can help create a welcoming environment for these gentle creatures.
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They are native to NSW, Tasmania, and Victoria
Blue-tongued lizards, or skinks, are native to New South Wales (NSW), Tasmania, and Victoria. They are commonly found in eastern and northern Australia in woodlands, grasslands, and heath country. They are one of the largest members of the skink family, typically growing up to 60 cm in length. They are characterised by their smooth, overlapping scales, a wide, flattened head, and a stout silver-grey body with blackish stripes.
In NSW, they are found throughout most of the state, as far west as Cobar. They are commonly seen in backyards, parks, and gardens, where they feed on snails, slugs, and caterpillars. They adapt well to suburban environments and can be found in rockeries, horizontal pipes, and cavities under houses.
In Tasmania, there is only one type of blue-tongued lizard, the Blotched Blue Tongue, which is also the largest lizard in the state. They are also found in other states, including South Australia (SA) and Victoria. The Blotched Blue Tongue is typically dark chocolate brown to black with large pink, cream, or yellow blotches on its back and a tail banded in the same colours.
Blue-tongued lizards are generally shy and slow-moving due to their shorter legs. When threatened, they display their blue tongues in a wide-mouthed, intimidating show to warn off potential enemies. They are not venomous, but they can deliver a painful bite if harassed.
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They are also found in New Guinea and Indonesia
Blue-tongued lizards, also known as blue-tongues, blueys, or panana in Indonesia, are found in various islands of Indonesia, mainly the Island of Papua New Guinea. They are also found on several small Indonesian islands between Australia and New Guinea. The Tanimbar blue-tongued skink, a subspecies of Tiliqua scincoides, is native to these islands.
In Indonesia, these lizards are commonly referred to as Indonesian skinks. They are considered by some to be the most beautiful lizards in the world, known for their colourful tongues. The blue tongue can be displayed as a bluff to ward off potential threats. The tongue can also deform and produce thick mucus to catch prey.
The Indonesian skink is closely related to the genera Cyclodomorphus and Hemisphaeriodon. They are bred in captivity and sold as house pets. The pygmy blue-tongue, an exception to the other species, is an ambush predator of terrestrial arthropods.
The Tiliqua gigas species of blue-tongued lizards is found in New Guinea and various islands of Indonesia. This species is unique in that it is not found on the Australian mainland, unlike most other species of blue-tongued lizards.
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They inhabit open country and suburban areas
Blue-tongued lizards are commonly found in open country with lots of ground cover, such as tussocky grasses or leaf litter. They shelter at night among leaf litter or under large objects like rocks and logs. They are also known to inhabit suburban areas with large backyards, where they can find ample shelter and food. They adapt well to human activity and may live in the same place for many years.
In suburban areas, blue-tongued lizards can be found in rockeries, horizontal pipes, and cavities under houses. They take advantage of sunny paths and lawns for basking. Their diet includes snails, slugs, and caterpillars, which are typically found in gardens. Blue-tongued lizards are considered beneficial to gardens as they help control the population of snails and plant-eating insects.
The Eastern Blue-tongue lizard, one of the larger species of Australian skinks, is found throughout most of New South Wales (NSW). It has a wide, flattened head and a stout silver-grey body covered with blackish stripes. The Eastern Blue-tongue can be distinguished by its blue tongue, which it displays when threatened to warn off predators.
Another species, the Northern Blue-tongue, is native to the savannahs of Australia's tropical regions. It has an orangey-yellow body with darker stripes. The Blotched Blue-tongue, on the other hand, is found in the highlands of southwest NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania. It is characterized by its dark brown body with light-colored blotches.
Overall, blue-tongued lizards are well-adapted to both open country and suburban environments, making them a familiar sight in many parts of Australia.
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They are most active in the mornings and evenings
Blue-tongued lizards are native to Australia and are commonly found in the eastern states of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. They are also found in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, though to a lesser extent. These lizards are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats, including suburban areas with large backyards and plenty of shelter. They are known to live in the same place for many years and are often spotted in rockeries, horizontal pipes, and cavities under houses.
Being cold-blooded, blue-tongued lizards need to warm themselves up in the mornings to become active and digest their food. Therefore, they are typically most active during the mornings and evenings, avoiding the heat of the day. In hot weather, they may become active in the evenings when the temperature is cooler. This makes them crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight period, which is typically around dawn and dusk.
During the mornings, blue-tongued lizards can often be seen basking in the sun to regulate their body temperature. They seek out sunny paths and lawns, rockeries, or horizontal pipes for basking. After getting some sun, they typically feed from late morning through to midday. As they are slow-moving, their diet consists of slow-moving prey such as beetles, snails, slugs, and caterpillars.
In addition to their morning activity, blue-tongued lizards may also become active in the evenings, especially during hot weather. They are crepuscular, so they are naturally adapted to be active during the twilight hours. This behavior allows them to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and lower risk of predation during these times.
Overall, blue-tongued lizards have adapted to be most active during the mornings and evenings to regulate their body temperature and avoid the heat of the day. This crepuscular behavior ensures they can hunt, explore, and carry out their daily activities during the cooler and potentially safer periods of the day.
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Frequently asked questions
Blue-tongued lizards are found all over Australia, except for Tiliqua gigas, which is found in New Guinea and Indonesia. They are commonly found in suburban backyards with lots of shelter and food, such as snails, slugs, and caterpillars.
The Eastern Blue-tongued lizards are found throughout most of New South Wales, as far west as Cobar. They are one of the larger species of Australian skinks.
The Northern Blue-tongued lizards are found in the savannahs of Australia's tropical regions. They are orangey-yellow with dark stripes along their backs.
Pygmy Blue-tongued lizards are found only in a few locations in South Australia, living in holes in the ground made by Trapdoor Spiders. They are the smallest of the blue-tongued lizards, growing up to about 90mm.
