Scientific name:
Tiliqua scincoides
Other names:
Bluey, Blue-Tongue Skink
Diet:
Omnivore (Snails, insects, fruits)
Max Length:
~60 cm
Habitat:
Forests, woodlands, suburbia
Status:
Least Concern
The Eastern Blue-Tongued Lizard is a suburban icon in Melbourne. While urbanization pushes many native reptiles away, the resilient “Bluey” has adapted to life in our backyards. At Reptile Encounters, we strive to show students that nature isn’t just “out in the bush”—it’s right here in our gardens.
This skink has a robust body with short legs and glossy scales. They are not built for speed; instead, they rely on a powerful physiological bluff. When threatened, the Blue-tongue will flatten its ribs to look wider, hiss aggressively, and shoot out its bright cobalt-blue tongue. This sudden flash of ultraviolet-reflective color startles predators.
The Gardener’s Friend Blue-tongues are fantastic to have in the garden because they are voracious snail and slug eaters. Their powerful jaws crush snail shells with ease. As omnivores, they also forage for beetles, native berries, and fallen fruit. Note: We teach students in our school incursions to avoid using snail pellets, as poisoned snails can be fatal to these helpful lizards.
Unlike most reptiles that lay eggs (such as the Bearded Dragon), Blue-Tongued Lizards give birth to live young (viviparous). A female can carry up to 20 babies at a time! The babies are born fully formed and independent.
Found across eastern and northern Australia, they prefer open country with plenty of ground cover. In winter, they are less active, often burying themselves deep in mulch or soil to stay warm.
Is the Blue-Tongued Lizard poisonous?
No. This is a common myth. Their blue tongue is a visual warning only; they do not have venom.
Do Blue-Tongues eat snakes?
While adult Blue-tongues are immune to the venom of some snake species (like Red-bellied Blacks) and can eat small juvenile snakes, it is rare. More often, the Blue-tongue is the one being eaten by large Brown Snakes.
Education Connection: Learn about backyard biodiversity with Melbourne’s Mobile Zoo. Our award-winning team can bring a Bluey to your classroom. Book a school incursion today.
Reptile Encounters would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the people of the Kulin Nation, who have never ceded sovereignty. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land.