Blue-tongue lizards love to bake in the sun during the summer months and it’s likely you’ll bump into one on your wanderings. We studied the lizard in Week 2 of the Australian Nature Study Guide | Summer Autumn, and one thing I found interesting, was that they give birth to their young, unlike most lizards that lay eggs.
Another interesting fact was the third eye which sits on top of the lizard’s head. This eye is able to detect night from day and it helps to regulate their body temperature. The most fascinating thing about these lizards is, of course, their blue tongue which they stick out while flattening their bodies when they feel threatened.
They are great backyard buddies as they keep insects, snails, and slugs in check by the veggie patch.
Mini Blue-Tongue Lizard Study
Indoor Prep Work
- Read more about Blue-Tongue Lizards at Backyard Buddies.
- Or check out ‘Lizards’ by Mark O’Shea at the library.
- Read Laziest Lizard by Susannah McFarlane.
Field Work
Look out for a Blue-Tongue Lizard or any skink on your nature ramble. Should you find one, observe it carefully. Can you spot the third eye? Do you notice how the scales lay neatly one on top of the other? This is to keep the dirt out. Did you notice the scale pattern? Take note of its habitat, season, and time of day. What was it doing? Can you estimate the length?
Field Journaling
Sketch your sighting in a nature journal. It can be a simple drawing of the lizard within it’s habitat or you can make a scientific sketch and label it’s anatomy. Older students can draw the internal anatomy of the lizard if they’d like to be challenged. You can add facts you’ve learned about the lizard or journal your own observations.
Lizard Anatomy
Head
- Eye and eyelid.
- Ear
- Nostril
- Mouth
Body
- Skin Tubercles
- Femoral pores
- Forelimb and hind-limb each having a foot and digits (toes).
- Vent.
Tail
Activities
- Use the Blue Tongue Notebook Page to sketch your sighting and write your observations.
- Create a habitat for a lizard in your backyard.
- We used a hallow log, bark, and leaves to create a lizard home.
- Create a 3D image of a lizard using natural items. We used leaves and bark.
- Paint a lizard using dots as in Aboriginal art. Compare lizards and snakes by using a Venn diagram. Start a Reptile List.
Learn all about reptiles.
Table of Contents
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLUE-TONGUE LIZARD?
Dig deeper with the Australian Nature Study Guide | Volume 1 | Summer/Autumn.
