Blue-tongued Skink
Scientific name: Tiliqua gigas
The blue-tongued skink has a long, tubular body and a slender head. Their most defining feature is, of course, their blue tongue!
When a predator threatens the skink, it puffs up its body and makes a hissing noise. It does this in an attempt to intimidate the hunter.
There are 6 species of blue-tongued lizards in Australia. They vary in colour but the Tiliqua gigas is pale grey with dark brown stripes across its body.
The blue-tongued skink may look exotic to us but in Australia they are commonly found in people’s back gardens. They are a helpful creature to have in the garden as they hunt and eat insect pests.
Blue-tongued skinks are often mistaken for being venomous but they are, in fact, fairly harmless.
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We live...
In the Reptile House, opposite the Porcupine enclosure.
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Size Fact
Blue-tongued skinks can grow up to 55cm from the snout to the tip of their tails.
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Food Fact
Blue-tongued skinks are omnivores. They mostly eat insects and vegetation.
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Fun Fact
Albino blue-tongued skinks have pink tongues!
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