Blue-Tongued Skink
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Name: Blue-Tongued Skink
Genus: Tiliqua 
Family: Scincidae 
Species: 
T. occipitalis-Western Blue Tongued Skink 
T. scincoides-Common/Eastern Blue -Tongued Sink 
T. intermedia-Northern Blue Tongued Skink 
T. nigrolutea-Blotched Blue Tongued Skink 
T. mustifaciata-Central Blue-Tongued Skink 
T. gigas-New Guinea Blue Tongue Skink 
T. gerrandii-Australian Pink tongued skink
Range: Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea
Habitat: Open woodlands, semi-desert, tropical or agricultural areas
Status: Not threatened 
Diet in the wild: arthropods, snails, plant material and various species of worms
Diet in the zoo: omnivore diet
Location in the zoo:  Herpetarium
Physical description:Body length up to 45 cm/17.5 in.  Skinks have a stout body with relatively small limbs and a thick, short tail.  Broad, blunt triangular head and scales that are usually smooth and contain small plates of bone.  Deep, berry blue tongue vividly offsets against the deep pink interior of the mouth. 
General information: 

Skinks usually are solitary animals, living secretive lives until mating season.  They are only active during the warmer months.  Mating occurs in November or December.  Females only reproduce every second year and give birth to an average of six live young. 

Special anatomical, physiological or behavioral adaptations: 

The animal expands its ribcage and turns side on in order to appear larger. At the same time, it opens its mouth wide to hiss and display its startling blue tongue and pink mouth. 


 
Page author: Jackie Byrne
If you have any additional infomation to add to this site, mail me at tastee @ mailexcite.com.

 
Sources and Links:

http://www.utas.edu.au/docs/zoology/bluetongue.html 

http://www.austmus.gov.au/is/sand/bluetoun.htm

http://www.discovery.com/exp/lizards/low_bluetongue.html

http://www.sonic.net/~melissk/bluetong.html

Frank, Norman, et.al.  "A complete guide to scientific and common  names of reptiles and amphibians of the world." Reptile &  Amphibian Magazine.  (Pottsville, PA: N G Pub, 1995) 196.


 
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