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Blue-tongued skink

Blue-tongued skink

Blue-tongued skinks are lizards of the AustralasiangenusTiliqua, which includes some of the largest members of the skinkfamily (Scincidae). They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards, simply blue-tongues, blueys in Australia, or panana in Indonesia. As suggested by these common names, a prominent characteristic of the genus is a large blue tongue that can be bared as bluff-warning to potential enemies. Their tongue can also deform itself and produce a thick mucus in order to catch prey. They are relatively shy in comparison with other lizards, and also significantly slower due to their shorter legs.