Wildlife
Blue-tongue lizards: facts you may not know
February 9, 2022
Why are their tongues blue?
The display is part of a last-ditch defence mechanism that these reptiles use to save themselves from being eaten, particularly from bird predators.
Live birth?
Blue-tongue lizard eggs develop and hatch inside the female’s body and she gives birth to tiny fully formed baby lizards, about 10 to 15 each time.
Five species of blue-tongue lizard?
Yep, that's correct
There are six species or subspecies of blue-tongue lizards, each with a particular distribution. This one – the shingleback – is found west of the Great Dividing Range.
For something extra cool...
This is a rare, genetically mutated blue-tongue lizard, sporting a pink tongue and an albino underbelly.