The Blue-tongued Lizard

For those who follow the blog closely, you’ll know how I love to enrich your life with various snippets of wildlife information, dressed with photos taken by yours truly. Among those, there have been a number of reptiles, such as, skinks, and a barking gecko.

The other week, on a warm and sunny Spring day, Brecca began barking outside. We’ve got to the stage where we can actually tell whether she’s barking at someone walking past with a dog, or barking at something of interest. This time, we knew she’d found something — our first Blue-tongued Lizard!

bluetongue1

I may be wrong, but I think it’s an Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard. I’d say it wasn’t far from being a foot long. It found it’s way into a hole at the side of the house before I got a chance to take a photo, and I had to wait patiently for it to come out. However, each time it came out, it would quickly flee into the hole again before I’d get a photo. I then tried to drop a brick in front of the hole when it left the next time, but I didn’t cover it properly, and it managed to squeeze through, and disappear again.

Finally, I decided to get the plasctic garden rake, and when it came out again, I used the rake to divert it away from the hole, so that I could get a few shots of it. The joys of wildlife photography!

bluetongue2

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Added Commentary

  • #1 of 8
    By Deron Sizemore
    on 18.10.07

    Wow, that thing looks pretty cool. It also looks like it would bite you hand off.

    I assume it’s harmless?

  • Author #2 of 8
    By Armen
    on 18.10.07

    Deron - Well…I wouldn’t say harmless exactly. If you stick your finger near its mouth it’ll bite, and although it’ll not take your finger off, they’ve got jaws like a vice. You could probably shake it off, but it would take a bit of effort.

    They are cool to have in the garden though. Some people have them as pets, and they’ve been known to live for 30 years.

  • #3 of 8
    By Deron Sizemore
    on 18.10.07

    Ah I see.

    I say you stick your finger near it’s mouth and let it bite and see if you can shake it. Only video tape it and put it here on your blog? :)

  • Author #4 of 8
    By Armen
    on 18.10.07

    Deron - hmmm…well maybe if the video became as popular as Miss South Carolina’s, and brought me in heaps of visitors, I’d consider it! (joke)

  • #5 of 8
    By Andrew Parker
    on 18.10.07

    Armen your place must be a zoo for reptiles as I hardly see any at my place let alone a Blue-tongued lizard.

    If you don’t stick your finger near it’s mouth maybe you should ask Melanie if she will. (only joking)

  • Author #6 of 8
    By Armen
    on 18.10.07

    Andrew - Not quite a zoo, but I enjoy the few little creatures which we do have here.
    Plus, I think we’d miss most of them if it wasn’t for Brecca letting us know.

    Maybe I’ll pick it up, and get it to bite her when she’s not looking? ;)

  • #7 of 8
    By Glenn
    on 24.10.07

    Armen…I can’t believe you said this ! LOL!

    Well, I am really seeing if I can “blockquote” ;)

    Maybe I’ll pick it up, and get it to bite her when she’s not looking? ;)

    OH…I like the 15 minutes edit time!

  • Author #8 of 8
    By Armen
    on 24.10.07

    Glenn - Ah, you know me…just a bit of playful banter!

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