Northern Blue-tongued Skinks (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia) are the largest and heaviest of the Blue-tongued Lizards (Scincidae Tiliqua). They are native to Australia and found almost exclusively in the Northern Region. They generally live around 20 years and are commonly kept as pets.

Appearance

The Northern Blue-tongued Skink (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia) is a subspecies of the Eastern Blue-tongued Skink (T. s. scincoides). Similar to other blue-tongued lizards, the Northern Blue-tongued Skink has a very distinctive patterning. Northerns tend to be a bright orange to soft peachy orange or even a yellowish colour with darker stripes along their sides and back, with a lighter creamier colour on their bellies. As their name would suggest, they also have a bright blue tongue that is often used to warn off or startle predators. Their legs are short and small compared to the length and width of their bodies. They can grow to approximately 24 inches (61 cm) total length.

Breeding

The breeding season occurs once yearly. When a male finds a suitable female he will scent mark her and follow her. Mating is aggressive and the male will hold the female down by biting her. Damage to the scales and light bleeding are common. This is the only time males are aggressive towards females.

Northern Blue-tongued skinks are ovoviviparous. Their gestation period is roughly 100 days with 15 to 20 babies born per litter. The offspring look the same as the adults with only slight variations to colouring. The babies wander off on their own and begin eating small insects and fruit a few days after birth.

See also

• List of reptiles
• Skink
• Blue-tongued skink
• Lists of reptiles by region

External links and sources

• Seike Reptiles
• Honolulu Zoo
• Blue-tongued Skink Care Sheet