Lizard with distinctive blue tongue, 40-70 cm long. Common blue-tongued skinks have dark bands around body, blotched blue-tongued skinks are mostly black with light brown, grey, yellow or orange blotches.
To help protect our environment:
Open habitats, forests, scrub, grasslands, coastal areas, urban gardens.
Likely to prey on native invertebrates, smaller lizards, birds and their eggs. May compete with native species for food and resources. May spread disease and parasites to other reptiles.
If you have pet blue tongued skinks, make sure they’re securely contained to avoid accidental escapes. If you are no longer able to look after your pet blue-tongued skink, find someone who is prepared to give it a lifetime home, or contact a relevant pet shop or animal rescue organisation to get it rehomed. Never release a blue-tongued skink into the wild – your pet may be unable to find the food and shelter it needs, and it also puts our native species at risk.
If you see a blue-tongued skink in the wild, please report it to Auckland Council at pestfree@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
