Common bluetongue skink
| Common bluetongue skink | ||||||||||||
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The common blue-tongue skink or simply blue- tongue skink (Tiliqua scincoides) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Tiliqua scincoides | ||||||||||||
| ( White , 1790) |
The Common Blauzungenskink or simply Blauzungenskink ( Tiliqua scincoides ) is an Australian lizard of the family of skinks (Scincidae).
Systematics
Tiliqua scincoides , the common bluetongue skink, is just one of the seven bluetongue skink species native to Australia and New Guinea . These are within the Lepidosauria of the Skinke family (Squamata: Bifurcata: Unidentata: Scinciformata: Scincidae). assigned, which represents the largest family of lizards with over 1000 species. Representatives of this group are characterized by osteodermata (ossification in the skin flakes), which give the skin great firmness. Bluetongue skinks, like all skinks in Australia, are classified as Lygosominae. Features of this group are a secondarily developed bony palate on the roof of the oral cavity, the fusion of the frontal bones and ventral protrusions on the forehead and palatal bones. Within this group, they are assigned to the so-called Egernia group, which is viewed by some authors as a monophyletic group, but by others as a paraphyletic group, which is molecularly justified in both cases. Within this group, the blue- tongue skins form their own monophyletic group with the two recognized genera Tiliqua and Cyclodomorphus . In addition to various features of the skull, apomorphies of this group include both an elongated trunk (up to 32 presacral vertebrae or more) and a reduction in the finger and toe bones (by at least 1 limb: finger IV; toe IV, V). The genus Tiliqua is distinguished from its sister group Cyclodomorphus in particular by the scaling of the head. In addition, the representatives of the genus Tiliqua are much larger and stronger than the species of the sister group. Three subspecies of T. scincoides are recognized, which differ primarily in terms of their scaling and coloration
description
The bluetongue skink grows to between 45 and 55 cm long with a tail about 20 cm. The males are i. d. Difficult to distinguish from the females. Among other things, the head of the male is slightly wider and the base of the tail is slightly thickened. In relation to the voluminous body, the legs are downright tiny. The most striking feature is the completely blue tongue, which is used on the one hand to track down prey and on the other to deter enemies. It is also an important distinguishing feature from the closely related species Tiliqua gigas , the giant blue-tongue skink , which have a pink tongue that only has a blue tip. Another distinguishing feature are the scales, which are rounded in T. scincoides , but keeled and tapered in T. gigas . The very smooth, scaly skin is gray to brown in color and has several transverse bands.
distribution
The home of the blue tongue skink is Australia , where it is common in large parts of all states. It prefers dry and sparsely forested grasslands, but can also be found in wooded areas. Where the natural habitats had to give way to cities and municipalities, they can now also be found in parks and gardens. Aside from their natural habitat, bluetongue skinks are popular pets around the world as they become noticeably tame compared to other lizards.
Way of life
Bluetongue skinks are always ground-dwelling, but can also overcome small obstacles. Within the distribution areas, they are mainly found in clusters of larger rocks, in abandoned buildings of other animals and in areas with a thick layer of leaves or dense grass. However, areas that are too humid are always avoided. Blue-tongue skinks tend to move slowly and slowly for lizards. Due to this special form of locomotion, which is associated with permanent abdominal contact with the ground, the hypothesis was even formulated that bluetongue skinks could represent a living model for the locomotion of early reptiles. When bluetongue skinks meet enemies, they show defensive behavior that is very typical of the Tiliqua genus . The body is flattened and placed sideways, the eponymous blue tongue is presented with its mouth wide open, while at the same time hissing sounds are uttered to intimidate the attacker. As a last resort, the skinks can also defend themselves with bites and, despite their only small teeth, inflict painful wounds on the opponent with their powerful jaws. If it is necessary to flee, the animals can escape surprisingly quickly. If the ground growth hinders their escape, they can put their hind legs against the body and move around in a meandering manner. The tail can be thrown off to distract the pursuer. Blue-tongue skink are diurnal omnivores that feed primarily on snails and larger insects , but also on the young of native rodents or ground-breeding birds. Nothing is known about the importance of plant foods in natural habitats. However, it can be assumed that this is an important part of the diet. The mostly solitary skinks mate between September and November. After three to four months of gestation, the female gives birth to up to 14 live young animals, which can be around 1/3 the length of the head and torso of the mother.
Subspecies
| German name | Scientific name | features | image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern bluetongue skink |
Tiliqua scincoides scincoides ( White , 1790) |
pronounced black line behind the eye |
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| Northern bluetongue skink |
Tiliqua scincoides intermedia Mitchell , 1955 |
large, orange spots on the sides of the body |
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| Tanimbar blue tongue skink |
Tiliqua scincoides chimaerea Shea , 2000 |
swell
- ^ Vidal, N., & Hedges, S. (2009). The molecular evolutionary tree of lizards, snakes and amphisbaenians. CR Biologies (332), pp. 129-139.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h Shea, GM (2000). History and systematics. In A. Hauschild, K. Henle, R. Hitz, GM Shea, & H. Werning, Blauzungenskinke: Contributions to Tiliqua and Cyclodomorphus (pp. 11–24). Münster: Nature and Animal Publishing House. "
- ↑ a b Skinner, A., Hugall, AF, & Hutchinson, M. (2011). Lygosomine phylogeny and the origins of Australian scincid lizards. Journal of Biogeography (38), pp. 1044-1058.
- ↑ a b Gardner, M., Hugall, A., Donnellan, S., Hutchinson, M., & Foster, R. (2008). Molecular systematics of social skinks: phylogeny and taxonomy of the Egernia group (Reptilia: Scincidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (154), pp. 781-794.
- ↑ a b c d e f Horner, P. (2000). The northern bluetongue skink Tiliqua scincoides intermedia (Mitchell, 1955). In A. Hauschild, K. Henle, R. Hitz, GM Shea, & H. Werning, Blauzungenskinke: Contributions to Tiliqua and Cyclodomorphus (pp. 161–168). Münster: Nature and Animal Publishing House.
- ^ Curth, S., Fischer, MS, & Nyakatura, JA (2014). Ichnology of an Extant Belly-Dragging Lizard — Analogies to Early Reptile Locomotion ?. Ichnos. 21 (1), 32-43.
- Kurt Deckert: Urania animal kingdom - fish, amphibians, reptiles . Urania-Verlag, Leipzig, Berlin 1991.
- Manfred Rogner: Lizards, Vol. 2, monitor lizards, skinks and other lizards as well as bridge lizards and crocodiles . Ulmer, Stuttgart 1994.
- Smith, TL, Kardong, KV, & Bels, VL (1999). Prey capture behavior in the blue-tongued skink, Tiliqua scincoides. Journal of herpetology, 362-369.
