20 facts about Blue-Tongued Lizard
They are named for their blue tongues, which contrast with their pink mouths to ward off potential predators. The brightness and size of the tongue al ...
This interesting lizard occurs only on the Australian continent. Although its appearance may be discouraging, in fact, it is a completely harmless animal to humans. It can climb perfectly, which is why it is found both on land and on rock formations, trees, and bushes. It is a popular reptile kept in terrariums.
There are about 350 species of Agamidae, divided into 50 genera.
They can most often be observed in the morning or late evening because too high temperatures drive them to shaded places or to burrows.
More than half of this length is the tail. The normal weight of adults ranges from 280 to 510 g.
Most often it is a mixture of brown, reddish-brown, red, yellow, white, and orange. Their body is covered with scales, their head is triangular and covered with spikes used to repel attackers. Despite their pointed appearance, these spines are quite flexible and are not capable of causing a sting.
They do this by changing the pigment present in their skin in organelles called chromatophores.
The sexes can be distinguished by a wider cloacal opening in males, a thicker tail base, and a larger head and chin. The coloration of males is also less intense than that of females. They also have a hemipenis, a copulatory organ found in male squamate reptiles (snakes, amphibians and lizards).
Young animals eat meat more often, and when they grow up, they choose more plant food. They feed on beetles, mealworms, spiders, and moths, and most often choose vegetables and flowers from plants.
They live in larger groups in places with abundant food or good sunlight, where they come to bask.
For example, in basking areas, the highest-ranking individuals occupy the highest and best-lit positions.
If the opponent wants to give way, he makes circular movements with one of his front paws.
They do this when they feel threatened or are chasing prey. Adults can run at a speed of 14 km/h.
They use color changes, movements, and gestures to communicate.
During this time, males become very aggressive towards each other and fight for dominance.
The eggs are left unattended and after about 2 - 2.5 months the young hatch. The length of incubation is, of course, determined by the ambient temperature, the higher it is, the faster hatching will occur.
At temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius, some males may hatch as females. Despite having two male chromosomes (ZZ), they are completely capable of reproduction and sometimes lay even more eggs than genetic females (ZW).
Their head is not as massive as that of males and they do not have such a strong jaw grip.
The average lifespan of these lizards in the wild is about 11 years.
Most of the individuals currently on the market come from ancestors who were illegally exported from Australia in the 1970s. For proper development, they need a terrarium with base dimensions of 120 x 60 cm equipped with a UVB lamp and a heating lamp. The temperature should be around 26 degrees Celsius.
