Baby blue-tongued lizard

11 posts / 0 new

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 09:49

soakes

This little blue-tongue was born late in the season last year. Then it turned cold and he disappeared underground. I wasn't sure he was going to make it, but he emerged a couple of months ago, still small and still keeping to his usual hiding places.

I am hoping that he starts getting bigger soon!

- soakes

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 10:17

shoop

I grew up in South Australia and now live in Western Australia, as a child I would often see blue tongues. When we moved to Western Australia people would then say bobtail instead of blue tongue and I would be confused if this was indeed the same lizard or if they were different . I can't seem to find too much on the net apart from the fact that the bobtail has a short stumpy tail that resembles it head . I must admit I haven't really stopped and had a real good inspection of these bobtails when I occasionally see them and any photos I have taken is usually just front veiw of its head. Is there any other differences between the both other than the tail ?

Kerry - Perth, Western Australia.

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 10:39

JessMess

What a cutie!

Shoop, if you go down to the library and get a reptile field guide it might help.

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 11:19

Annie W

Darn that is one cute little Blue-tongue soakes!! Happy he made it through winter! How long is he at the moment?

Shoop, I grew up in S.A. & lived in W.A for over 10 years before moving to Tas, I used to call the Bobtails Blue-tongues too!! Did a little googling and it seems that Bobtails are part of the Blue-tongue family, but yes, different from the S.A. "Blue-tongues" So glad you mentioned it shoop, or I just would have always called them all "Blue-tongues" - so, thanks!

http://www.pilbarapythons.com/skinks.htm

West Coast Tasmania

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 11:32

soakes

Hi RubyE,

good question - I think he is about 15cm long. Next time I see him I will make a better estimate!

- soakes

soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 11:37

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The lizards we call Bobtails in WA are either Western Shinglebacks OR Bobtails. A lot of people call them by the same name because it's easier to remember. Shinglebacks, Bobtails and Bluetongues are all seperate subspecies of the group Tiliqua

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 12:17

shoop

Thanks for the all the information guys , it is very interesting . Most definitely have to do more searching on this internet and even might pop into my local library and check out that book JessMess. Shinglebacks, I haven't heard that term before so now I am curious. I get very excited about all these interesting things to learn about that I overlooked while growing up. I was reading in another thread this morning how Woko has developed a recent interest in butterflies (me too) . So many wonderful things to discover out there in the world of birds.

Kerry - Perth, Western Australia.

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 14:34

timmo

I think Shinglebacks and/or Bobtails are the same ones that we also used to know as "Stumpy tails" or "Stumpy lizards".

Cheers
Tim
Brisbane

Wed, 30/10/2013 - 20:10

donnanags

Great photo Shoop. This is a photo of our resident bluey, we have called him/her sapphire. Sapphire appears every morning for a few hours catching some rays.

Donna