The northern blue-tongued skink (''Tiliqua scincoides intermedia'') or northern blue-tongued lizard is the largest and heaviest of the
blue-tongued lizards (family Scincidae, genus'' 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 (''T. s. intermedia'') is a subspecies of the
common blue-tongued skink (''T. s. scincoides''). Similar to other blue-tongued lizards, the northern blue-tongued skink has 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 backs, with a lighter, creamier colour on their bellies.
They also have bright blue tongues often used to warn off or startle predators. Their legs are short and small compared to the length and width of their bodies. They grow to about 22 inches in total length.
Breeding
The breeding season occurs once yearly in late spring. Mating is somewhat aggressive, with the male holding the female in place by biting her back. Damage to the scales and light bleeding are common.
The gestation period is roughly 100 days and they can produce as many as 20+ babies. Blue-tongued skinks are
ovoviviparous
Ovoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous and live-bearing viviparous reproduction. Ovoviviparous animals possess embryos that develop insi ...
and give birth to live young. The offspring appear as smaller versions of the adults with only slight variations to colouring, often darker and becoming a lighter and more vibrant shade with each
shed. Babies are
precocial
In biology, altricial species are those in which the young are underdeveloped at the time of birth, but with the aid of their parents mature after birth. Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the mome ...
and will wander off on their own and begin eating small insects and fruit a few days after birth. Adults are known to cannibalise their young.
Relatives
The northern blue tongued skink is related to the
eastern blue tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides).
Gallery
File:Tiliqua scincoides intermedia, Northern Blue-Tongued Skink (captive bred specimen).JPG, Northern Blue-Tongued Skink 2011
External links and sources
Honolulu ZooBasic Information Sheet: Northern Blue-Tongued Skink
Northern Blue-tongued Skink
Northern Blue-tongued Skink
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7059175
Skinks of Australia
Reptiles described in 1955