Blotched Blue-tongue: Museum Victoria

Blotched Blue-tongue Lizard Tiliqua nigrolutea

Lizards of Victoria series

Identification

The Blotched Blue-tongue is one of our larger skinks, attaining a snout vent length to 250 mm. It is a dark coloured lizard with light coloured patches which gives it the appearance of having wide broken longitudinal stripes, rather than cross bands.

Photo of Blotched Blue-tongue Lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea

Blotched Blue-tongue Lizard
Photographer: Peter Robertson / Source: Wildlife Profiles Pty. Ltd.

Distribution and habitat

The Blotched Blue Tongue is common in the east and north east areas of Melbourne. It is commonly found basking, or sheltering under cover such as fallen logs or discarded rubbish, such as timber or iron.

Biology

Its diet consists of both plant and animal material. It loves to eat snails and slugs which should make it a welcome visitor to our gardens. The females give birth to as many as 12 live young in a litter.

Comments (15)

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Hi, I just wanted to let you know my Blotched Blue-tongue died today at the age of 26 1/2 years old :(. He was born Easter 1983. He didn't seem ill two days ago and seemed to die suddenly. Thought you might be interested in knowing how long they can live for. I am very sad as I was only 11 when he was born and am now almost 38. He lived in an outdoor enclosure and hibernated every winter. He mostly ate snails, bananas and dog food.

Hi Josie - Most animals that have been raised in captivity have to be released into the wild very slowly and carefully – giving them plenty of time to acclimatise to their new environment and learn how to fend for themselves. I can see three main problems with you releasing your blue tongue: 1) It is illegal to either collect animals from the wild without special permission or release captive animals into the wild. 2) You don’t know where this animals ‘genetics’ originated from so you are releasing an animal into a new area where it may not be found naturally, or releasing different genetics into a population. 3) The wellbeing of the animal should be considered and whether this is the best thing for the animal and its chance of survival.

This may not be the response you are looking for but it would be good if you could consider these points when making your final decision on what to do with your pet.

hi there i found a lizard near my home yesterday, although living in suburbia i have placed him in a tank with reptile mat heater and leaves and stuff like that but am wondering if i can send a photo of him as i am unable to distinguish the breed of lizard he is and if you can help me on how to look after him also where can i set him free in a safe place, if you can send me a email link i can send a photo thanks from chris.

Hi Chris. Several lizard species are native to suburban areas, so there's a chance that you can release this specimen where you found it. Also, if you'd like museum experts to identify the species, you can follow these guidelines for identification requests, and send us a clear photo of the reptile via our online form.

Hi Lorrrain, by the sound of it you may need to confirm he is a local species of blue-tongue. There is a possibility that if he is very comfortable in captivity and feeding well already that he may be an accidental escapee, this also correlates with the fact you say he does not look like a local. If you sent in some photos to the Discovery Centre it may throw some light on the issue. If it is a local species the best thing you could do is release him back to his local habitat. Is there adequate habitat for you blue tongue around your husband’s work? The lizard needs a place to hide and enough food to survive

Hi, My husband brought home a blue-tongue lizard that he found curled up in the lunch room. We have a reptile encloser with heating and have fed him snails and grapes which he ate. What I want to know is If we dicide to let him go would it be best to put him back where we found him or is our back yard ok. We are in the country near hanging rock.Also its markings don't seem to match an eastern or southern blotchy skink,is there a web site I can look up all types of blue tongues.(ps) can I put any tree branches and leaves in the encloser.8

Hey, one of my friends found a female blue tongue in an Industrial Estate, 5 years ago and has kept it ever since as a pet, with another female, which she had for 10 years. Recently it died, and my friend felt terrible keeping one, so she brought it to my house to release, as I live on 72 acres of bushland. However, I didnt think it was going to survivee (we've cared for an injered blue tongue before for a wildlife carer, as it had been mauled by out dog and was not fit to release.). 2 hours after we released her lizard, I went to check it, and despite all the sunlight, she'd moved about 30 cm. I took her home and she was totally dehydrated. I'm trying to relocate her as she does love being outside, however after 5 years I dont think you can just let her go. So I've been keeping her in a guinea pig cage for the last 4 or 5 days, to get her used to the weather, and putting snails in her cage. I've also started putting a little bit of banana in her cage every morning, as I plan to leave her some banana every day for about a month after I release her, to make sure she's getting some food. However, I'm still not sure I'm doing the right thing. Do you have any tips on how to re-locate a blue tongue? I dont want to keep her for too long, I'm scared I'll get attatched. Thanks so much! Josie

Hi, I have had a blue tongue living in my suburban backyard for 20 years. I usually only see it in the summer. A few days ago it turned up at the back door and it was freezing cold. I put it in the sun to warm up but the next day it was back at the door. I now have it inside in a box near the hot water cylinder. It has had a little drink and licked a grape, but seems very unwell. It did crawl a fair way back to the door so it must be able to move. It just seems to want to come inside and be taken care of. Am I doing the right thing? Suzie launceston Tas.

Hi Susan,

Blue Tongues can be kept privately without a licence, but it is illegal to collect them from the wild. With this in mind, your lizard may be very old and a candidate for palliative care. If you leave it outside, it will look for an overwintering site and may or may not survive the coming winter, as happens to old lizards in the wild every year. You can take it to a local vet that specialises in native wildlife to have it assessed, or contact the relevant wildlife rescue organisation that covers Launceston. There may also be lost reptile homes that can give advice (in Victoria these are 'Victorian Reptiles' and 'Black Snake Productions'). You'll have to decide what to do based on the applicable wildlife regulations, the best options for the lizard, and what you're willing and capable of doing.

I think my bluetongue may be in labour. How long are they normally in labour for?

Hi Shelly,

The duration of labour depends on a number of factors, including the age and health of the female. The number of young produced during any one birthing event varies from two to twenty - giving birth to two offspring may take an hour or two, whereas giving birth to twenty may take up to a week.

Hi there. We have just recently found what I believe to be a Blotched Blue Tongue Lizard here in Tasmania. We found it in our cats mouth thinking it was a leaf! We've got it in a box and my mother wants to keep it, but I want to release it because there tends to he alot of care invoved in looking after a lizard. It's eyes seem to be closed shut, could it be blind? Also, I've noticed this is native to Victoria, could this one be an escapee? Cheers.

Dear Ben, Blotched Blue Tongues occur naturally in Tasmania, in fact they are the only Blue Tongue species present there. They tend to prefer cooler climates and on the mainland are restricted to Tasmania-like climes. This gives them their alternative name of Alpine Blue Tongue.

Blue Tongues are often attacked by cats and do not usually survive, even if the damage appears minor. Bacteria from the cat's teeth can be particularly harmful. The fact that the lizard's eyes are closed is not a good sign - you can either take it to a vet with the possibility of treatment, or release it back into the wild and hope for the best!

Hi, we have found a pregnant blue tongue (vic) and I'm wondering what are some actual signs that she will have them? She is getting bigger at the back end. I am aware that its in autumn when they birth but what are some signs? She has not wanted food the last 4days. It's getting colder. She is in a large enclosure outside. Today she didn't come out of her burrow all day and her belly is bluish in colour which is different to normal, is it just the cold? Can they get sick from humans? Say if humans have a cold? She seems to love human contact, she will lay on my chest and I feel knows our voices. Recently she's been a little reserved, I'm wondering if she is close to birth. Thanks.

Hi Angel, Female Blue Tongue lizards tend to become larger along the length of the body when pregnant, rather than becoming larger at the back end. So it may be possible you just have a particularly well-fed specimen. If it is well-fed, or even if it is a pregnant female, the blue is probably an indictaion that the lizard will moult. A female will moult about two weeks before giving birth to allow more room as her body expands. A well-fed lizard will moult just to make room for further growth. Females usually give birth in March, but will on occasion do so in early April.

So you may or may not have a female, which may or may not be pregnant. There are no known disease which skinks can contract from humans. Blue Tongues frequently respond to the human voice or movement, generally because they associate it with food - it's not been reported that they respond differently to different voices.

Keep in mind too that although Blue Tongues can be kept without a licence, it's illegal to collect them from the wild - even from your own backyard. They can be purchased from a pet shop or licenced breeder. If you find a lizard in the wild that appears to have been someone's pet, you can hand it in to the various reptile rescue centres around Melbourne.

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Blotched Blue-tongue Lizard Tiliqua nigrolutea

Lizards of Victoria series

Identification

Distribution and habitat

Biology

Further Reading

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