Classification: Introduced Species Most of the reported instances in Florida and Califoarnia have been just that report. There are no records of established populations in either state at this time

Description: This is a large species of terrestrial blue tongue measuring upwards of 60 centimetres in length and over 1 kilogram in mass. It has a stout body and short legs. It is variable in color but generally has a banded pattern. The tongue is blue-violet to cobalt blue in color. The tongue is used, like most animals in the order Squamata, to collect micro molecules to deliver to sensory organs as a "smell" sense using the tip. The tongue of the blue-tongued skink is also useful in catching prey, as it is coated in a sticky mucus to preserve surface tension in motion to draw an insect back into the mouth. Due to its characteristic blue tongue and its curious nature, it is a popular companion animal in Western countries.

There are many localities and established color variations for each. Eastern blue tongues can have a green or yellow phase, they can have eye bands or not, and look different coming from the Brisbane area and others. In captivity, breeders have expressed albinism and hyper melanism. Northerns are either classic/standard looking or speckled from the Kimberly region and Prince Regent National Park. In captivity, breeders have expressed exaggerated colorations that can be red, yellow, orange, caramel, white, and others. Tanimbar blue tongues are the most glossy and often seen in a gold or silver phase. Tanimbar and Kimberly Northerns are known for being more aggressive in the wild than other species. All blue tongue species display greater tolerance for human interaction the more generations they are bred in captivity.

Habitat: It is an adaptable animal, often finding habitat in urban and suburban areas, including residential areas

Range: Reported in Florida and California

Found in these States: CA | FL

Diet: It is omnivorous, feeding on insects, snails, frogs, other reptiles, small birds, small mammals, carrion, some plant material, fruits, and other vegetation.

Reproduction: It is ovoviviparous, and a live bearing reptile. The female's litter can have a range from 5 to 25 live young per litter with Tiliqua scincoides scincoides being known to carry the largest litters.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, a threat from cane toads is localized and unlikely to be resulting in rapid enough population declines to justify a threatened listing.

Subspecies: Three: Unknown as to which have been found in the U.S.
   Tanimbar Island Blue-tongued Skink - (Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea)
   Northern Blue-tongued Skink - (Tiliqua scincoides intermedia)
   Eastern Blue-tongued Skink - (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides)

Taxonomy: