Why does a blue-tongue lizard show its tongue?
A blue-tongue lizard shows its bright blue tongue to scare off predators. When threatened, it opens its mouth wide, sticks out the tongue, hisses and puffs up its body.
Blue-tongue lizards are large, slow-moving skinks with short legs and a thick body, growing up to around 60 centimetres in some species. Their sudden flash of blue, against the pink mouth, can surprise predators such as birds and dogs and give the lizard time to escape.
Studies have found that the tongue reflects ultraviolet light, especially at the back, making it even more striking to birds that can see UV.
Garden friends
Blue-tongues are common in suburban gardens across much of Australia. They eat snails, slugs, insects, flowers and fruit, making them popular with gardeners.
They give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
Cats, dogs, lawnmowers and snail pellets are major threats, so gardeners are encouraged to provide hiding spots such as logs, rocks and dense plants. Blue-tongues can live for 20 years or more and often return to the same shelter in a garden year after year. In winter they become inactive and hide away until warmer weather returns.
Did You Know?
The eastern blue-tongue is one of the largest skinks in Australia.