Blue-Tongued Skinks. David C. Wareham

name chimaerea refers to the Chimaera, a fire-breathing she-monster from Greek mythology that was a combination of a lion, a goat, and a snake. The Tanimbar was given this scientific name because of its extreme aggressiveness, which differs greatly from the serene temperament customarily associated with other blue-tongued skinks. If handled frequently when young, captive Tanimbar specimens can become tame to a certain degree; however, this species is not recommended as a pet for children.

      The Tanimbar Island blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea).

      Blotched Blue-Tongued Skink,Tiliqua nigrolutea

      The Blotched blue-tongued skink, also known as the Black and Yellow blue tongue and Southern blue tongue, is a robust and relatively large member of the Tiliqua genus and an inhabitant of New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. It resides in both wet and dry environments from coastal heaths to mountain forests. Blotched blue tongues also visit suburban gardens, where the owners welcome them for controlling pests such as snails and slugs.

      This species can grow up to 23.5 inches (60 cm) in length. It is omnivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, spiders, arthropods, and plants. An inquisitive lizard, the Blotched blue tongue tames easily and is long-lived. Females produce three to ten live young and frequently interbreed with members of the T. scincoides species.

      As far as coloring goes, this is an unusual species among blue tongues because it is dark brown to black with yellowing and many irregular blotches down its back and tail. Two distinct forms of this species—a lowland form and a highland, or alpine, form—seem to exist. The alpine variety is usually larger and inclined to have brighter, more colorful pink or orange blotches on its back whereas the lowland type is darker with darker markings. The tail of this species is particularly fat and comes to a sudden point instead of tapering.

      The Blotched blue tongue (Tiliqua nigrolutea).

      Western Blue-Tongued Skink Tiliqua occipitalis

      The Western blue-tongued skink is found chiefly in Western Australia. In the Northern Territory, it is limited to the far south, and in South Australia, it is separated into western and eastern populations. This species is usually found in dry areas, such as shrublands, grasslands, scrubby woodlands, and dunes. It is omnivorous and active by day, hunting for insects, spiders, and snails, the shells of which it crushes in its strong jaws. The Western blue tongue will also browse for plants (especially fruit-bearing) and carrion. It spends nights in deserted rabbit warrens or beneath rocks, logs, or leaves. The average Western grows to be around 19.5 inches

      (50 cm) in length. Females give birth to five to ten brown-and-yellow-banded live young, which are almost immediately independent.

      Like most members of its family, the Western blue-tongued skink is typically heavy bodied and short limbed with a broad, triangular head and short tail. A distinctive black marking adorns the rear of each eye. Its ground color is generally dark tan or reddish brown with paler banding across the body and tail; the underside of the body is usually pale.

      Like the Central blue tongue, the Western is listed as “Vulnerable” according to the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The main threats to the species are clearance of its habitat for agriculture and the subsequent destruction of the rabbit warrens upon which the skinks depend for refuge, as well as predation by the domestic cat and introduced species such as the European red fox. Because it is one of the rarer species of blue tongue, the Western is seldom kept as a pet.

      The Western blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua occipitalis).

      Pygmy Blue-Tongued Skink,Tiliqua scincoides adelaidensis

      Also known as the Dwarf blue-tongued skink, the Pygmy, as its name suggests, is the smallest of the Tiliqua genus, seldom attaining a length of more than 4 inches (10 cm). It is found only in the grasslands of Adelaide in Australia and lives belowground, usually in the burrows of wolf and trapdoor spiders, where it can be easily overlooked. In fact, in the early 1930s, the Pygmy blue tongue had been so rarely seen that it was thought to have become extinct, only to be rediscovered some sixty years later in 1992.

      The Pygmy is pale grayish or gray-brown in color and speckled with darker spots and blotches, with no real stripes or patterns. It has a very slim, short tail; short limbs; and a disproportionately large head compared to its body. Adult males have wider heads but are shorter than females. Females give birth to between one and five young. Unlike the other members of the genus, the Pygmy has a pink tongue.

      The Pygmy is extremely rare—scientists believe that only about five thousand exist in the wild today—although efforts are currently underway to increase its numbers. It is illegal to privately own a Pygmy blue-tongued skink and, in fact, only two organizations in Australia are known to have them: the Adelaide Zoo has a small breeding group, and the South Australian Museum has an adult male.

      A Blue-Tongue Relative

      One other equally fascinating Tiliqua species occurs in Australia: the Stump-tailed skink, T. rugosa. Known also by the names of sleepy lizard, bobtail, and shingleback skink, this slow-moving lizard is closely related to the blue-tongued skinks, with similar habits and a stunning triangular cobalt-blue tongue.

      The Stump-tailed skink reaches roughly 12 inches (30 cm) in length; has a short, flattened tail that strongly resembles its head in both shape and size; and has huge, rough, more ossified, and keeled scales (it’s often likened to a pine cone). Recent research suggests that this species is monogamous, and a pair may stay together for twenty years or longer. Gestation lasts for about five months, and adult females give birth to just one to three very big young.

      Several varieties of the Stump-tailed skink can be found in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and West Australia. They differ in color from an overall jet black to a dark brown with speckled white, yellow, or orange spots (on their flanks in particular).

      The Stump-tailed skink (Tiliqua rugosa).