Meet the blotched blue-tongued lizard, a chunky, slow-moving reptile that’s as fascinating as it is friendly-looking. Found mostly in the cooler parts of southeastern Australia, including Tasmania, this lizard is a local favorite. When threatened, it opens its mouth wide, puffs up its body, and flashes that blue tongue like a warning flag. Most predators take one look and back off. And really, who wouldn’t think twice about messing with a lizard that shouts with color?

The “blotched” part of its name comes from the pretty patterns along its back and sides — big, irregular splashes of cream, orange, yellow, or pink on a dark brown background. Each lizard has its own unique markings, kind of like a fingerprint. These patterns help them blend in with leaf litter and undergrowth in forests and grasslands. Despite their chunky look, they’re excellent at hiding. They spend much of their time tucked under rocks, logs, or shrubs, especially in the heat of the day. They’re most active during early mornings and evenings when the weather’s cooler.

One of the coolest things about the Blotched blue-tongued lizard is that it gives birth to live young — no eggs here! A mother lizard can have up to 10 little babies at a time, each born fully formed and ready to go. These baby lizards are mini versions of the adults and start fending for themselves almost immediately. And even though they look a bit like snakes with legs, these lizards are completely harmless. They’re calm, curious, and not aggressive — in fact, many people find them in their gardens and are happy to let them stay because they eat snails, insects, and even slugs.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Australia

2017