The Merauke blue-tongued skink (''Tiliqua gigas evanescens''), also known as the faded blue-tongued skink, or giant blue-tongued skink, is a subspecies of '' Tiliqua'' that is native to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The Merauke blue-tongued skink is the longest of all the Tiliqua species; often reaching nearly 26-30 inches (66–76 cm) in total length. The species is often exported for the

exotic pet An exotic pet is a pet which is relatively rare or unusual to keep, or is generally thought of as a wild species rather than as a domesticated pet. The definition varies by culture, location, and over time—as animals become firmly enough est ...

trade, and is steadily growing in popularity within both

herpetoculture Herpetoculture is the keeping of live reptiles and amphibians in captivity, whether as a hobby or as a commercial breeding operation. "Herps" is an informal term for both reptiles and amphibians, shortened from the scientific umbrella term “he ...

and zoological exhibits globally.

Natural habitat

The Merauke blue-tongued skink hails from the tropical environment of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Screenshot 12

In captivity

Most specimens of the Merauke blue tongue skink present in captivity are of wild-caught origin. Captive breeding efforts have risen with the growing interest of blue tongue skinks within herpetoculture; however, the species still remains widely imported. Blue tongue skinks are often displayed within zoological facilities. It is a popular species among herpetoculturists.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q892528 gigas Skinks of New Guinea https://www.tiliqua-time.com A care and reference website for all Indonesian blue tongue skink sub-species.