Gestation, parturition and neonatal behaviour in the blotched blue-tongued lizard, Tiliqua nigrolutea, in captivity: observations of maternal care in a viviparous lizard

Abstract

Southern or blotched blue-tongued lizards, Tiliqua nigrolutea, are large, viviparous skinks distributed throughout southeastern Australia. Adult females can range from 25-32 cm snout-vent length (SVL) and weigh between 300 and 500 g (and up to 800 g in late gestation). In Tasmania, where this study was conducted, blue-tongued lizards occur in low altitude heaths and woodlands, and cool temperate forests. Females have a relatively long gestation(4-4.5 months),clutch size varies from 1 to 17, and is only loosely related to body size. We have been studying the reproductive biology of blue-tongued lizards since 1995, and here we describe our observations of behaviours during gestation and parturition in adult female and neonatal blue-tongued lizards in captivity.