Blue-tongued skinks are the genus Tiliqua, which contains some of the largest members of the skink family (Scincidae). They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards in Australia. As suggested by these common names, a prominent characteristic of the genus is a blue tongue.

Systematics

Like their close relatives of the genus Cyclodomorphus. A distinct species, Tiliqua gigas Which are a type of crested gecko, occurs in the island of New Guinea and various islands of Indonesia. One of the 3 subspecies of Tiliqua scincoides is found on several small Indonesian islands between Australia and New Guinea. Most species, with the exception of the pygmy blue-tongue, are relatively large (up to 371 mm total length), light-bodied, short-limbed, broad with a distinct head, and dull teeth. The eastern blue tongue can have up to 12 babies and grows up to 2ft (60cm).

• Tiliqua adelaidensis, Pygmy Blue-Tongued Lizard
• Tiliqua gigas, Indonesian Blue-Tongued Lizard
  • Tiliqua gigas evanescens, Merakue Blue-Tongued Lizard
  • Tiliqua gigas keyensis, Key Island Blue-Tongued Lizard
• Tiliqua multifasciata, Centralian Blue-Tongued Lizard
• Tiliqua nigrolutea, Blotched Blue-Tongued Lizard
• Tiliqua occipitalis, Western Blue-Tongued Lizard
• Tiliqua rugosa Shingleback (or Bobtail) Lizard
  • Tiliqua rugosa rugosa, Common Shingleback Lizard
  • Tiliqua rugosa aspera, Eastern Shingleback Lizard
  • Tiliqua rugosa palarra, Shark Bay Shingleback Lizard
  • Tiliqua rugosa konowi, Rottnest Island Shingleback Lizard
• Tiliqua scincoides, Australian Blue-Tongued Lizard
  • Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, Eastern Blue-Tongued Lizard
  • Tiliqua scincoides intermedia, Northern Blue-Tongued Lizard
  • Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea, Tanimbar Blue-Tongued Lizard

Western blue-tongued Lizard

Central blue-tongued Lizard from the Tanami Desert

Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard in metropolitan Sydney.

Notes

References

• Austin, J.J. & Arnold, E.N. (2006): Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39(2): 503–511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)
• Bull, C.M. (1988): Mate fidelity in an Australian lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus (Scincidae). Copeia 1987(3): 749-757.
• Bull, C.M. (1990): Comparison of displaced and retained partners in a monogamous lizard Tiliqua rugosa. Australian Wildlife Research 17: 135-140.
• Valentic, R.A. (1996): A prey record of the Eastern Blue-tongue Tiliqua scincoides for the common brown snake Pseudonaja textilis. Monitor 8(3): 155.