"Blue tongue lizard" redirects here. For the Australian Aboriginal myth, see Bluetongue Lizard.
Blue-tongued skinks[2] comprise the AustralasiangenusTiliqua, which contains some of the largest members of the skinkfamily (Scincidae). They are commonly called blue-tongued lizards or simply blue-tongues or blueys in Australia or panana in Indonesia. As suggested by these common names, a prominent characteristic of the genus is a large blue tongue that can be bared as bluff-warning to potential enemies.[3] The type of predator/threat that is near will determine the intensity of colour present in the tongue. The tongue can also deform itself and produce a thick mucus in order to catch prey.[4] They are relatively shy in comparison with other lizards, and also significantly slower due to their shorter legs.
Blue-tongued skinks are closely related to the generaCyclodomorphus and Hemisphaeriodon. All species are found on mainland Australia with the exception of Tiliqua gigas, which occurs in New Guinea and various islands of Indonesia. The Tanimbar blue-tongued skink, a subspecies of Tiliqua scincoides, is also found on several small Indonesian islands between Australia and New Guinea. Tiliqua nigrolutea, the Blotched blue-tongued skink, is the only species present in Tasmania.
Ecologyedit
Most species are diurnal, ground-foraging omnivores, feeding on a wide variety of insects, gastropods, flowers, fruits, and berries.[5] The pygmy blue-tongue is again the exception, being primarily an ambush predator of terrestrialarthropods.[6] All are viviparous, with litter sizes ranging from 1-4 in the pygmy blue-tongue and shingleback to 5-24 in the eastern and northern blue-tongues.[7]
Multiple extinct species have been proposed. T. frangens, the largest known species of the genus, lived during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epoch around the Wellington Caves of New South Wales in Australia. Another extinct species T. laticephala may represent the same taxon as T. frangens. Its nearest relative is the extant T. rugosa, which is half the size and lacks the bony plates of T. frangens.[9][10][11]
Another extinct species T. wilkinsonorum also lived during the Pliocene epoch. The earliest possible species is T. pusilla from the middle Miocene, but researchers question whether this species belong to the genus Tiliqua due to its uncertain phylogenetic position that causes paraphyly.[9]
In captivityedit
Blue-tongues skink species are generally docile, gentle, quiet and easily tamed, and can make a good reptile pet for beginners. Although they are not aggressive, they have strong jaws and teeth, meaning that a bite from a skink can be painful. It is advisable not to startle or provoke them, as they may bite if they feel threatened.[12] Specimens can live up to 20 years or more.[13]
Notesedit
^Gray, J.E. (1825). A synopsis of the genera of reptiles and Amphibia, with a description of some new species. Annals of Philosophy 10:193—217. p. 201
^Abramjan, Andran (2015). "Why is the tongue of blue-tongued skinks blue? reflectance of lingual surface and its consequences for visual perception by conspecifics and Predators". The Science of Nature. 102 (7–8): 42. Bibcode:2015SciNa.102...42A. doi:10.1007/s00114-015-1293-4. PMID 26185113. S2CID 16915899.
^Tamara L. Smith; Kenneth V. Kardong; Vincent L. Bels (1999). "Prey Capture Behavior in the Blue-tongued Skink, Tiliqua scincoides" (PDF). Journal of Herpetology. 33 (3): 362–369. doi:10.2307/1565632. JSTOR 1565632. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
^Cogger, H.G. (2000). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Reed New Holland.
^Department for Environment and Heritage > Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard - fact sheet, Environment.sa.gov.au, retrieved 18 July 2017
^Turner, G. 2001. Keeping Bluetongue Lizards. Australian Reptile Keeper Publications.
^Thorn, Kailah M.; Fusco, Diana A.; Hutchinson, Mark N.; Gardner, Michael G.; Clayton, Jessica L.; Prideaux, Gavin J.; Lee, Michael S. Y. (2023-06-14). "A giant armoured skink from Australia expands lizard morphospace and the scope of the Pleistocene extinctions". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 290 (2000). doi:10.1098/rspb.2023.0704. ISSN 0962-8452. PMC 10265006. PMID 37312544.
^ abThorn, K.M.; Fusco, D.A.; Hutchinson, M.N.; Gardner, M.G.; Clayton, J.L.; Prideaux, G.J.; Lee, M.S.Y. (2023). "A giant armoured skink from Australia expands lizard morphospace and the scope of the Pleistocene extinctions". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences. 290 (2000). 20230704. doi:10.1098/rspb.2023.0704. ISSN 1471-2954. PMC 10265006. PMID 37312544. S2CID 259149033. Supplementary Information
^Extinct lizard was a bizarrely supersized version of modern skinks, Alice Klein, New Scientist, 2023-06-14
^Meet the biggest and most bizarre skink ever found in Australia. It became extinct 47,000 years ago, 2023-06-14
^"Feeding and Care of Your Blue-Tongued Skink". Thesprucepets.com. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
^"Blue-Tongued Skink - Tiliqua". Petmd.com. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
Referencesedit
Austin, J.J. & Arnold, E.N. (2006). Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks (Reptilia: Scincidae) in the Mascarene islands. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution39(2): 503–511. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.12.011 (HTML abstract)
Bull, C.M. (1988). Mate fidelity in an Australian lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus (Scincidae). Copeia1987(3): 749-757.
Bull, C.M. (1990). Comparison of displaced and retained partners in a monogamous lizard Tiliqua rugosa. Australian Wildlife Research17: 135-140.
Valentic, R.A. (1996). A prey record of the Eastern Blue-tongue Tiliqua scincoides for the common brown snake Pseudonaja textilis. 8(3): 155.
blue, tongued, skink, blue, tongue, lizard, redirects, here, australian, aboriginal, myth, bluetongue, lizard, comprise, australasian, genus, tiliqua, which, contains, some, largest, members, skink, family, scincidae, they, commonly, called, blue, tongued, liz. Blue tongue lizard redirects here For the Australian Aboriginal myth see Bluetongue Lizard Blue tongued skinks 2 comprise the Australasian genus Tiliqua which contains some of the largest members of the skink family Scincidae They are commonly called blue tongued lizards or simply blue tongues or blueys in Australia or panana in Indonesia As suggested by these common names a prominent characteristic of the genus is a large blue tongue that can be bared as bluff warning to potential enemies 3 The type of predator threat that is near will determine the intensity of colour present in the tongue The tongue can also deform itself and produce a thick mucus in order to catch prey 4 They are relatively shy in comparison with other lizards and also significantly slower due to their shorter legs Blue tongued skinks Blotched blue tongued skink Tiliqua nigrolutea Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family Scincidae Subfamily Egerniinae Genus TiliquaGray 1825 1 Species 8 extant see text Synonyms Trachydosaurus Contents 1 Systematics and distribution 2 Ecology 3 Species 3 1 Extinct species 4 In captivity 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksSystematics and distribution editBlue tongued skinks are closely related to the genera Cyclodomorphus and Hemisphaeriodon All species are found on mainland Australia with the exception of Tiliqua gigas which occurs in New Guinea and various islands of Indonesia The Tanimbar blue tongued skink a subspecies of Tiliqua scincoides is also found on several small Indonesian islands between Australia and New Guinea Tiliqua nigrolutea the Blotched blue tongued skink is the only species present in Tasmania Ecology editMost species are diurnal ground foraging omnivores feeding on a wide variety of insects gastropods flowers fruits and berries 5 The pygmy blue tongue is again the exception being primarily an ambush predator of terrestrial arthropods 6 All are viviparous with litter sizes ranging from 1 4 in the pygmy blue tongue and shingleback to 5 24 in the eastern and northern blue tongues 7 Species editName Scientific Name Picture Subspecies Adelaide pygmy blue tongue skink T adelaidensis Peters 1863 nbsp No common name T frangens 8 Indonesian blue tongued skink T gigas Schneider 1801 nbsp T g gigas Giant blue tongued skink T g evanescens Merauke blue tongued skink T g keyensis Key Island blue tongued skink Centralian blue tongued skink T multifasciata Sternfeld 1919 nbsp Blotched blue tongued skink T nigrolutea Quoy amp Gaimard 1824 nbsp Western blue tongued skink T occipitalis Peters 1863 nbsp Shingleback bobtail T rugosa Gray 1825 nbsp T r aspera Eastern shingleback T r konowi Rottnest Island bobtail T r palarra Shark Bay bobtail T r rugosa Common shingleback bobtail Common blue tongued skink T scincoides White 1790 nbsp T s chimaerea Tanimbar blue tongued skink T s intermedia Northern blue tongued skink T s scincoides Eastern blue tongued skink Irian Jaya blue tongued skink Tiliqua sp nbsp Extinct species edit Multiple extinct species have been proposed T frangens the largest known species of the genus lived during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epoch around the Wellington Caves of New South Wales in Australia Another extinct species T laticephala may represent the same taxon as T frangens Its nearest relative is the extant T rugosa which is half the size and lacks the bony plates of T frangens 9 10 11 Another extinct species T wilkinsonorum also lived during the Pliocene epoch The earliest possible species is T pusilla from the middle Miocene but researchers question whether this species belong to the genus Tiliqua due to its uncertain phylogenetic position that causes paraphyly 9 In captivity editBlue tongues skink species are generally docile gentle quiet and easily tamed and can make a good reptile pet for beginners Although they are not aggressive they have strong jaws and teeth meaning that a bite from a skink can be painful It is advisable not to startle or provoke them as they may bite if they feel threatened 12 Specimens can live up to 20 years or more 13 Notes edit Gray J E 1825 A synopsis of the genera of reptiles and Amphibia with a description of some new species Annals of Philosophy 10 193 217 p 201 Tiliqua Reptile Database Abramjan Andran 2015 Why is the tongue of blue tongued skinks blue reflectance of lingual surface and its consequences for visual perception by conspecifics and Predators The Science of Nature 102 7 8 42 Bibcode 2015SciNa 102 42A doi 10 1007 s00114 015 1293 4 PMID 26185113 S2CID 16915899 Tamara L Smith Kenneth V Kardong Vincent L Bels 1999 Prey Capture Behavior in the Blue tongued Skink Tiliqua scincoides PDF Journal of Herpetology 33 3 362 369 doi 10 2307 1565632 JSTOR 1565632 Retrieved 24 May 2022 Cogger H G 2000 Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia Reed New Holland Department for Environment and Heritage gt Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard fact sheet Environment sa gov au retrieved 18 July 2017 Turner G 2001 Keeping Bluetongue Lizards Australian Reptile Keeper Publications Thorn Kailah M Fusco Diana A Hutchinson Mark N Gardner Michael G Clayton Jessica L Prideaux Gavin J Lee Michael S Y 2023 06 14 A giant armoured skink from Australia expands lizard morphospace and the scope of the Pleistocene extinctions Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 290 2000 doi 10 1098 rspb 2023 0704 ISSN 0962 8452 PMC 10265006 PMID 37312544 a b Thorn K M Fusco D A Hutchinson M N Gardner M G Clayton J L Prideaux G J Lee M S Y 2023 A giant armoured skink from Australia expands lizard morphospace and the scope of the Pleistocene extinctions Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B Biological Sciences 290 2000 20230704 doi 10 1098 rspb 2023 0704 ISSN 1471 2954 PMC 10265006 PMID 37312544 S2CID 259149033 Supplementary Information Extinct lizard was a bizarrely supersized version of modern skinks Alice Klein New Scientist 2023 06 14 Meet the biggest and most bizarre skink ever found in Australia It became extinct 47 000 years ago 2023 06 14 Feeding and Care of Your Blue Tongued Skink Thesprucepets com Retrieved 24 May 2022 Blue Tongued Skink Tiliqua Petmd com Retrieved 24 May 2022 References editAustin J J amp Arnold E N 2006 Using ancient and recent DNA to explore relationships of extinct and endangered Leiolopisma skinks Reptilia Scincidae in the Mascarene islands Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39 2 503 511 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2005 12 011 HTML abstract Bull C M 1988 Mate fidelity in an Australian lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus Scincidae Copeia 1987 3 749 757 Bull C M 1990 Comparison of displaced and retained partners in a monogamous lizard Tiliqua rugosa Australian Wildlife Research 17 135 140 Valentic R A 1996 A prey record of the Eastern Blue tongue Tiliqua scincoides for the common brown snake Pseudonaja textilis Monitor 8 3 155 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tiliqua nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Tiliqua Bluetongue fact file Blue tongued Lizards in New South Wales Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blue tongued skink amp oldid 1212155304, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
