Additional Resources

Further Reading

Australian Shingleback Group — (Facebook) Shingleback blue tongue skinks are very different from most other Australian blue tongue skink species. If you own or are planning to own one of these skinks, this is the community to join.

Beautiful Dragons —  Originally created for bearded dragons, but just as applicable to blue tongue skinks. This is a comprehensive list of fruits, vegetables, and insects rated according to how safe they are to feed. Great tool for making sure your bluey gets a varied diet!

Blue-Tongued Skinks: Contributions to the Knowledge of Tiliqua and Cyclodomorphus — Known as the “Blue Tongue Bible,” this is a must-have for any BTS keeper. Of course, it’s also more expensive than most college textbooks, so jump on it immediately if you ever find a good deal.

ReptileMountain.TV — Reptile Mountain’s Youtube channel. Excellent videos with fantastic information delivered by an experienced blue tongue skink breeder. I highly recommend listening to his videos whenever you get a chance.

Scientific Papers

Behavioral regulation of internal temperature in the lizard Tiliqua scincoides by K. Myhre and H. T. Hammel

Circadian rhythm of behavioral thermoregulation in the sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) by David J. Ellis et al.

Daily and Seasonal Rhythms in Selected Body Temperatures in the Australian Lizard Tiliqua rugosa (Scincidae): Field and Laboratory Observations by Bruce T. et al.

Diet of two species of bluetongue skink, Tiliqua multifasciata and Tiliqua occipitalis (Squamata: Scincidae) by Glenn Shea

Energetics of bluetongue lizards (Tiliqua scincoides) in a seasonal tropical environment by Keith A. Christian et al.

Food Chemical Discriminations by the Omnivorous Scincid Lizards Tiliqua scincoides and Tiliqua rugosa by William E. Cooper, Jr.

Habitat requirements of the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis by Nicholas J. Souter

Home range overlap of mothers and their offspring in the sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa by C. Michael BullBen and C. Baghurst

Ocular Anatomy and Retinal Photoreceptors in a Skink, the Sleepy Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) by Shaun T.D. New et al. (2012)

Oxygen Consumption, Thermal Conductance, and Heart Rate in the Australian Skink Tiliqua scincoides by George A. Bartholomew et al.

Refuge sites used by the scincid lizard Tiliqua rugosa by Gregory D. Kerr

Social monogamy and extra-pair fertilization in an Australian lizard, Tiliqua rugosa by C. Michael Bull et al.

The ecology of an Australian reptile icon: how do blue-tongued lizards (Tiliqua scincoides) survive in suburbia? by Jennifer Koenig et al.

Why blue tongue? A potential UV-based deimatic display in a lizard by Arnaud Badiane et al.

Why is the tongue of blue-tongued skinks blue? Reflectance
of lingual surface and its consequences for visual perception
by conspecifics and predators
by Andran Abramjan et al.

Wild Observations

Fighting Blue Tongue Lizards. Filmed by thegreatBB on YouTube. Depicts a territorial dispute between two wild male Northern blue tongue skinks (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia).

Interaction between Blotched Blue Tongue Skink (Tiliqua nigrolutea) and Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus) in Melbourne, Australia. Filmed by Tim Caldwell.

Postmortem examination and observations on a wild Eastern Blue Tongue Skink (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides). Performed by Dr. Jonathan Howard.


Keep reading:

  1. Introduction to Blue Tongue Skinks
  2. Shopping List
  3. Tiliqua Species & Subspecies
  4. Terrarium: Size Requirements
  5. Terrarium: Temperatures & Humidity
  6. Terrarium: Substrate
  7. Terrarium: Decorating
  8. Feeding Your Skink
  9. Handling Tips
  10. Diseases & General Health Information
  11. Additional Resources