Blue tongue skinks are named for their distinctive blue tongue. We’ve talked previously about how they spook predators with a flash of blue, but this time we look at an alternative more food focused use. We also have a red hot Species of the Bi-week.

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Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Hewes AE, Schwenk K. 2021. The functional morphology of lingual prey capture in a scincid lizard, Tiliqua scincoides (Reptilia: Squamata). Journal of Morphology 282:127–145. DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21287.

Species of the Bi-Week:

Yoshikawa N, Matsui M. 2022. A New Salamander of the Genus Onychodactylus from Central Honshu, Japan (Amphibia, Caudata, Hynobiidae). Current Herpetology 41. DOI: 10.5358/hsj.41.82.

Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:

Youngman, N. J., Llinas, J., & Fry, B. G. 2021. Evidence for resistance to coagulotoxic effects of Australian elapid snake venoms by sympatric prey (blue tongue skinks) but not by predators (monitor lizards). Toxins, 13(9), 590. DOI: 10.3390/toxins13090590.

Editing and Music:

Podcast edited by Emmy – https://www.fiverr.com/emmyk10 

Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson

Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy

Other Music – The Passion HiFi, https://www.thepassionhifi.com