Blue Tongue

[Mad Aussie]

On our ride this morning we saw this little guy ... a Blue Tongue Skink (often called blue tongue lizard) about 350mm (14 inches) long.

All species are found on mainland Australia with the exception of Tiliqua gigas which occurs in New Guinea and various islands of Indonesia. One subspecies of Tiliqua scincoides is also found on several small Indonesian islands between Australia and New Guinea. Tiliqua nigrolutea is the only species present in Tasmania. With the exception of the pygmy blue-tongue, they are relatively large lizards (up to 37 cm total length), light-bodied, short-limbed, broad with a distinct head and dull teeth.

As suggested by the name, a prominent characteristic of the genus is a large blue tongue that can be bared as a bluff-warning to potential enemies.

[Iguanasan]

I was waiting to see his blue tongue! Nice shots of this feller. My favourite here is the second one.

[theantiquetiger]

Super set!!! I don't know how all you people "Down Under" don't just get eaten by all the weird stuff living down there.

[Mad Aussie]

I was waiting to see his blue tongue! Nice shots of this feller. My favourite here is the second one.

I was alone when I took these and was waiting for the others to arrive on their bikes so I could get the blue tongue. It's so blue! But with my 400mm lens on me I need 2 metres distance to focus and he doesn't get cranky until I'm under a metre away. I tried to stop him running away as the others rolled up on the bikes and boy did the tongue and the lunging begin then It's all bluff though ... they have little in the way of teeth.

If you look closely, you can see he's flat. They do that to look bigger to predators. When not alarmed they look round like any other lizard.

[Mad Aussie]

Super set!!! I don't know how all you people "Down Under" don't just get eaten by all the weird stuff living down there.

I don't know how you guys go to the park for a picnic and don't get eaten by wolfs, coyotes and bears!!

[edG]

very cool captures, love the colours in this little beastie

[Mad Aussie]

very cool captures, love the colours in this little beastie

Thanks Edg

[Bambi]

what a neat looking critter. Great close ups of a nifty lizard.

[Mad Aussie]

what a neat looking critter. Great close ups of a nifty lizard.

Thanks

[Hillbillygirl]

Another vote here for #2, but really like all of them, and the info attached.

I don't know how you guys go to the park for a picnic and don't get eaten by wolfs, coyotes and bears!!

We just keep a pack full of lizards on us and throw them to them as we make an escape.
Actually, I am not near as afraid of the critters as I am of all the "sound" hunters in the bush this time of year. Never go out without your "hunter orange" on from now until Dec.