Blue tongue skinks belong to the genus Tiliqua, in which they comprise a number of species and sub-species. These animals are found in the wild throughout much of New Guinea and Australia. While animals are still exported from their countries of origin in New Guinea, all blue tongue skins of Australian origin are captive bred, mostly in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

In nature, blue tongue skinks are found in a wide variety of habitats. Animals hailing from Australia’s interior deserts are adapted to a harsh desert lifestyle, while those species from more northern ranges are used to a more tropical environment.

These animals get their common name from the bright blue tongues that they possess and display when startled or during territorial disputes. As pets, they rank high on the list as a result of their gentile demeanor, appearance, and ease of care.  This information was taken from http://lllreptile.com

 

At Cub Creek Science Camp we have a pair of Blue Tongue Skinks named Kia and Cobalt.  They have the most surprising tongues that are quite long.  The tongue of an adult Blue Tongue Skink is around 14 to 18 inches long.  Blue Tongue Skinks have a long life span even for a lizard. They can live up to 20 to 30 years in captivity.  Our Science Camp campers enjoy holding and learning about these beautiful reptiles.