General Description

Blue-tongues have large heads, long bodies and short legs and toes. The tail is shorter than the body, tapering to a point. The underside is cream, yellow or pinkish with black mottling. Limbs are speckled black and white above. Male blue-tongues have a proportionally larger head and stockier body, but females grow slightly larger than males. Snout to base of tail length up to 37 cm.

Biology

Blue-tongues are active during the day. They eat a wide variety of foods including insects, snails, carrion, wildflowers, native fruits and berries. Their teeth and jaws are strong and they can crush snail shells and beetles. When threatened, blue-tongues turn towards the threat, open their mouth wide and stick out their broad blue tongue that contrasts vividly with their pink mouth. If this threat display does not frighten predators away, blue-tongues may hiss and flatten out their body, making themselves look bigger. Blue-tongues are live bearing, producing up to 25 young in a litter.

Distribution

From Tasmania, through Victoria to the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Widespread in lowland areas in the south of their range, but restricted to higher altitudes in the north.

Habitat

Wet and dry sclerophyll forest, montane woodlands and coastal heathlands.

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