Eastern Blue-Tongued Skink 
Tiliqua scincoides scincoides 

                       Habitat 

Eastern Blue-Tongued Skinks are native to desert and grassland areas in Australia and New Guinea. Blue-tongued skinks live in leaf litter, or under logs or rocks. They come out in the day to forage for food. The Eastern Blue-Tongued Skink is commonly found in the yards and gardens, where they eat insect pests. 

                                    Fun Facts​​  

• The Blue-tongued skink gets it’s name from its’ bright blue tongue, which it flicks like a snake. It also uses its’ tongue to scare away potential predators. When frightened, the skink will face the danger, open it’s large mouth and stick out its’ tongue, while hissing loudly.
• The skinks’ large head is also thought to  mimic the Death Adder, a highly poisonous snake that is native to the same region.
• As a last resort, the skink can also detach its’ tail, which will continue to move, fooling the predator into thinking that it has caught the lizard. Later, the tail will re-grow, although rarely to its’ full length
• Female Blue-tongued Skinks are ovoviviparous. This means that, unlike most reptiles, she carries her eggs inside herself until they hatch. She then gives birth to 6-12 young skinks. The young skinks are able to care for themselves at birth, and usually disperse within a few days.

The Eastern Blue-Tongued Skink is the largest member of the skink family, with adults averaging 17” long and sometimes weighing over 2 lbs. It is one of several species of blue-tongued lizards native to that part of the world.

​Lifespan: An average of 15-20 years 
 

​Diet: Mainly eating bugs and snails, as well as vegetable matter.