20+ Blue Tongue Skink Fun Facts

Among several reptiles, the blue-tongue skinks have unique fame because of their fascinating appearance, distinct bright blue tongue, and calm and friendly nature. Out of their friendly and relaxed nature, these reptiles have become a popular pet option among reptile lovers across the globe.

If you are planning to purchase blue-tongue skinks and want to know every detail about these reptiles, read the article below till the end to inform yourself about the interesting facts and tidbits about these amazing reptiles.

Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: Tiliqua
• Class: Reptilia
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Order: Squamata
• Family: Scincidae
• Subfamily: Egerniinea 
• Genus species: Tiliqua scincoides

Blue Tongue Skink Fast Facts

Habitat:	Bushland, sometimes urban areas
Natural Habitat:	Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia
Lifespan:	>30 years in captivity
Size:	Up to 24 inches (60cm)
Weight:	Up to 1.1lb (500g)
Color:	Patterned yellows, reds, browns
Diet:	Omnivorous; invertebrates, flowers, berries
Predators:	Birds, rodents, centipedes
Top Speed:	Slow (>1 kph)
No. of Species:	8
Conservation Status:	Endangered to Least concern

Blue Tongue Skink Fun Facts

1: Their Tongues are Multi-purpose: Have you ever wondered why these adorable lizards have such flashy tongues? It’s not just for show! Blue tongue skinks’ tongues function as both a warning signal and a communication tool. Imagine, this mostly camouflaged little buddy can surprise potential predators with its vibrant tongue. Talk about a nifty defense strategy! Isn’t nature just fascinating?

2: Habitat Adaptability: Ever spotted a bluey in your garden? These critters love suburban spaces and can spend up to 70% of their time in a chosen garden spot. So, if you find one lounging around in your veggie patch, let it be—it’s probably munching on garden pests!

3: Road-Smart Lizards: Another cool thing about blue tongue skinks is their ability to avoid roads. It’s almost as if they know the dangers and consciously decide to steer clear. And it’s this very street-smart nature that helps them thrive in urban settings.

4: Monogamous Creatures: It might surprise you, but these reptiles are quite the romantics! Blue tongue skinks are typically monogamous and their partnerships can last between 10 and 43 days a year. Quite an interesting dating timeline, don’t you think?

5: Inbreeding Avoidance: Another fascinating fact is that blue tongue skinks avoid inbreeding, selecting mates with the most distant genetic similarities. But the secret to how they recognize relatedness still remains a mystery to us.

6: Living in Spider Burrows: One of the quirks of blue tongue skinks is their preference for spider burrows. Yep, you heard it right! They displace spiders, including big ones like wolf spiders and tarantulas, and make the burrow their cozy home.

7: Occasional Roommates: In certain circumstances, blue tongue skinks have been observed sharing burrows with other members of their species. For creatures that are usually solitary, this shows some pretty adaptive social behavior!

8: Battling Ticks: Just like other creatures, blue tongue skinks have to face natural challenges. They often deal with tick infestations, especially those lizards occupying the most resource-rich areas. It’s a tough balance to strike between food availability and parasite prevalence.

9: Mistaking Fingers for Food: A bit of a funny fact for you: when kept as pets, blue tongue skinks can sometimes mistake fingers for food, especially when hand-fed regularly. A bit of a chomp from a bluey may surprise you—they have a strong jaw grip!

10: Conservation Efforts: Interestingly, conservationists have found a simple and cost-effective strategy to help the population of blue tongue skinks: digging more burrows! This approach has been especially beneficial for the endangered pygmy blue-tongued skink.

11: Blue tongue skinks are fast runners: Here’s an interesting fact: their legs are quite small in comparison to their body size. You’d think this would hinder their movement, but on the contrary, they’re pretty speedy when they want to be!

12: Unique scals: Another distinctive feature is their scale pattern. If you run your fingers down their body (carefully, of course!), you’ll feel the smooth, round scales that give these skinks their prehistoric, dragon-like appearance.

13: Intelligent eyes: Skinks have small, intelligent eyes that always seem to be observing their surroundings with curiosity. It’s an endearing sight that, as a skink owner, I’ve come to love!

14: Diurnal creatures: Did you know that Blue Tongue Skinks are diurnal? That means they’re active during the day and sleep at night, just like us!

15: Solitary animals: They’re solitary animals and enjoy their own company. My own skink, Blueberry, is quite content exploring her habitat or basking in her favorite spot!

16: Puffing up: Skinks are known for their defensive behavior. When threatened, they puff up their bodies and hiss, sticking out their bright blue tongue. It’s quite a display!

17: Easy to tame: They’re not aggressive creatures. With proper handling and socialization, they can become very comfortable with their human companions.

18: Blue tongue skinks can recognize their owner: One interesting behavior I’ve noticed is their intelligence. Skinks are very aware of their surroundings and are able to recognize their owners over time.

19: Omniverse: As omnivores, their diet is diverse, consisting of leafy greens, fruits, insects, and even small rodents. A balanced diet is key to their health!

20: Unique way of giving birth: The blue-tongue skinks reproduce uniquely; they are ovoviviparous, giving birth through eggs. However, the egg hatches inside the body of the female. The gestation time of blueys is three months, after which they give birth during the daytime when their bodies are warm enough.

Final words

Owning a reptile pet can be challenging, but you can never go wrong with blue-tongue skinks because of their low-maintenance, friendly and docile nature. Being a part of the family, they deserve equal love and care as any other family member. You need to be sure of all the needs and requirements of the blue-tongue skinks before actually bringing them home. 

Since they are different from regular pets, it’s suggested to do some research before going out and buying them. It’ll help you be a wonderful pet owner.