Blue-tongue Lizard Conservation

Blue-tongue Lizards

Did you know the Eastern Blue-tongue Lizard (Tiliqua scincoides) is the largest member of the skink family and is also commonly called the Blue-tongued Skink? They can be found throughout most of Australia, most densely populated in Victoria and New South Whales. They use their bright blue tongues as a defence mechanism, sticking it out whist turning toward the threat, hissing and flattening out their body to appear bigger. Blue-tongues can grow up to 60cm long and are a silvery grey colour with broad dark brown/black bands across their back and tail. Blue-tongue Lizards can often be found along Whitecliffs Foreshore Reserve amongst tussocky grass and leaf litter. Like all lizards, Blue-tongues rely on the warmth of their surroundings to raise their body temperature, meaning you will often see them basking in the morning sun. During the cold winter months, they remain inactive, buried deep in their shelter sites, waiting for the warm sun to bring them back out again.

Blue-tongues are a great visitor to have frequenting your gardens as they feed on the slugs and snails that feed on the lettuce growing in your veggie patch! Unfortunately for Blue-tongues, these snails and slugs are poisoned by snail baits, meaning they can be poisoned themselves, hence care should be taken in using snail baits and insecticides. Care should also be taken when mowing the grass, blue-tongues will try to escape your lawn mower by hiding in the long grass! Most Blue-tongue Lizards in suburban areas will not make adulthood as they are easy prey for domestic dogs and cats. In the bush their major predators are predatory birds such as Kookaburras. Although a blue-tongue siting can often cause a fright if mistaken for a snake, they are certainly a good reptile to have around!