Northern Blue-tongued Skink
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Physical Description
Northern blue-tongued skinks are terrestrial lizards measuring up to 22 inches in length with a stout body, large head, and relatively short legs. These skinks range in color, but they usually have a banded pattern. They are omnivores with a diet primarily consisting of plants, insects, small mammals, reptiles, birds, and carrion. Their larger rear teeth are used to crush hard foods, such as snails, insects, and fruit.
Interesting Fact 1
When threatened, northern blue-tongued skink sticks out their UV-reflective tongue to scare away predators. This behavior is called a deimatic display.
Interesting Fact 2
Only a few days after birth, newborns wander off on their own and begin eating small insects and fruit.
Interesting Fact 3
Northern blue-tongued skinks are ovoviviparous, meaning that females retain fertilized eggs inside their body until they hatch. This allows the female to protect her eggs from extreme weather and predators, ensuring that a greater percentage of developing young survive until birth. Females typically produce 10-15 live young.
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