Taxonomy and Description

• The Pygmy Adelaide Blue-Tongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis) is a member of the largest family of lizards called Scincidae, which contains all skinks. Commonly referred to simply as the "pygmy blue tongue lizard," these small lizards grow to be only 7 inches as adults and possess short limbs. Males have a wider head and shorter snout than females. They are grey or grey-brown in color with scattered darker spots along their body.
  
  

Range/Habitat

• Approximately 550 pygmy blue tongue lizards live in the wild. These lizards are found in 16 distinct sub-populations located in a small geographic area north of Adelaide, Australia. Pygmy blue tongue lizard populations are found in grassland or former grasslands with sandy soils.
  
  

Diet and Hunting Methods

• Pygmy blue tongue lizards are generalist feeders and will eat anything they can catch. Spiders, insects and other lizards have all been found in the stomachs of collected specimens. Individuals rely on spider burrows to hunt from. The burrows serve as a shelter to protect them from predators and a hiding place while waiting for prey to pass in front of them.
  
  

Conservation Efforts

• Pygmy blue tongue lizards are sensitive to the substrate of grassland environments, since they depend on burrows in the ground for survival. The conversion of native grasslands to agricultural production believed to be one of the largest influences in the population decline of the pygmy blue tongue lizard. Other factors such as the density and species composition of ground-cover in grasslands may also be influential factors related to the presence of the species, making them vulnerable to fire damage and caustic fertilizers.
  
  

Interesting Facts

• Though the pygmy blue tongue lizard is endangered, the limited, known population of the species remains stable. Many of the locations of the sub-populations are located on private land, and these populations remain intact because of voluntary agreements between landowners and the Australian government. At the time of writing, the Australian government is conducting a national study aimed at a national recovery plan for the lizards.