Blue-tongued lizards are reptiles.

There are 6 different kinds of blue-tongued lizards in Australia. Here are 4 of them.

Eastern Blue-tongue.

It can grow as long as your ruler.

Pygmy Blue-tongue.

It's only about 10cm long.

Blotched Blue-tongue.

Like most Blue-tongues it has a pointy tail.

Bob-tailed Blue tongue.

It has a short stumpy tail. It's also called the Shingleback, the Sleepy Lizard, the Boggi, and the Stumpy-tailed lizard.

They are called Blue-tongued Lizards because they have fat blue tongues. Like most lizards, blue-tongues can smell through their nostrils and their tongue.

They eat snails, slugs, flowers and fruit. They don't chew their food. They hold and crush it.

They have dry scaly skin.

Blue-tongues are slow and gentle.

They won't bite unless they are attacked or when they are frightened when picked up.

The bite might hurt but it is not poisonous. It's best to leave them alone. They won't hurt you.

Most Bob-tailed blue-tongues have the same partner all their lives.

Baby blue-tongues come out from a hole under the mother's tail.

From the moment they are born they have to find their own food.

If they are really lucky they can live for 30 years.

 Dangers to Blue-tongued lizards include:

Cars

Blue-tongues often lie on the warm road surface and don't move out of the way of cars.

Snail baits

If blue-tongues eat snails and slugs poisoned by snail baits they will die.

Lawn mowers

Blue-tongues often hide in long grass and don't run away when lawn mowers come near them.

Cats and dogs

can kill or injure young blue tongues and big dogs can kill adult lizards.

Eagles, poisonous snakes and large goannas sometimes eat blue-tongues.