The Blotched Blue-tongue is one of Australia’s most distinctive large skinks and a species that often surprises people in the Greater Sydney region. Most Sydneysiders are familiar with the Eastern Blue-tongue, which is common in backyards across the city, but far fewer realise that this cool-climate specialist also lives on the outskirts of Sydney – especially in the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands, and other elevated, cooler areas. For anyone living above about 600 metres, this species is far more likely to be the local “garden blue-tongue” than its eastern cousin.
Although the two species look superficially similar, the Blotched Blue-tongue is a separate, darker, and more heavily patterned animal, built for cooler conditions and thriving in climates that the Eastern Blue-tongue generally avoids. Residents who encounter this species often contact Sydney Snake Catcher for identification, especially when the lizard appears unusually dark or red-blotched. Most of the time, that’s exactly what it is.
The Blotched Blue-tongue is not widespread across Sydney, but instead occurs in cool, elevated areas. Its presence around the city is mostly tied to temperature and rainfall.
Common areas include:
Occasional sightings
If you live in Penrith, the Inner West, the Eastern Suburbs, or coastal Sydney, you will almost certainly never see this species naturally.
The Blotched Blue-tongue is a thickset, muscular skink with smooth, glossy scales and a broad, triangular head. It has the typical blue tongue seen in all Tiliqua species, which it uses in a classic bluff display when threatened.
Colour varies widely across the species’ range, but Sydney-region animals typically show:
When someone sends a photo to Sydney Snake Catcher asking, “Is this a blue-tongue or something else?”, the heavy blotching is usually the giveaway.
