Tiliqua nigrolutea
Blotched blue tongues mate in spring the females bearing generally 6-12 rather large, live young at
the end of summer through to mid autumn. ln Tasmania, females usually breed every second or third
year. Gravid (pregnant) females in similar species are highly sedentary, staying close to places with abundant food and shelter to ensure a greater chance of the new off spring surviving till birth. Male blue-tongues are more mobile, probably in order to find a mate, and are more likely to be killed or injured. Newborn lizards are particularly vulnerable, but this is counteracted by large Iitter sizes and long life spans. Captive lizards have been known to live to 20 yearsor more.
There are seven different species of ‘blue-tongues that occur right across Australia - from coast to coast, from sea level to the highest mountains, and in habitats ranging from Rainforest to desert. At least one species occurs in every Australian capital city. Despite this, relatively ittle is known about
blue-tongues and some of their most interesting features remain enigmas to researchers. Why do different blue-tongue species with similar diets have distinctively
different shaped teeth?
Why are blue tongues so large? Of the one thousand species of skink known worldwide only seven others reach anywhere near the same size. Why have most blue-tongues lost the ability to voluntarily shed all or part of their tail and to regenerate another? Other skinks can lose their tail as defence against being grasped by a predator — regenerating a new tail supported by cartilage instead oi vertebrae over the following year.
Breeding
Blotched blue tongues mate in spring the females bearing generally 6-12 rather large, live young at
the end of summer through to mid autumn. ln Tasmania, females usually breed every second or third
year. Gravid (pregnant) females in similar species are highly sedentary, staying close to places with abundant food and shelter to ensure a greater chance of the new off spring surviving till birth. Male blue-tongues are more mobile, probably in order to find a mate, and are more likely to be killed or injured. Newborn lizards are particularly vulnerable, but this is counteracted by large Iitter sizes and long life spans. Captive lizards have been known to live to 20 yearsor more.
Adaptable yet enigmatic characters
There are seven different species of ‘blue-tongues that occur right across Australia - from coast to coast, from sea level to the highest mountains, and in habitats ranging from Rainforest to desert. At least one species occurs in every Australian capital city. Despite this, relatively ittle is known about
blue-tongues and some of their most interesting features remain enigmas to researchers. Why do different blue-tongue species with similar diets have distinctively
different shaped teeth?
Why are blue tongues so large? Of the one thousand species of skink known worldwide only seven others reach anywhere near the same size. Why have most blue-tongues lost the ability to voluntarily shed all or part of their tail and to regenerate another? Other skinks can lose their tail as defence against being grasped by a predator — regenerating a new tail supported by cartilage instead oi vertebrae over the following year.
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