Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently and getting pretty frustrated with folks indentifying Irian Jayas and other blue tongue skinks as 'hybrids'. Some are obvious but with Irian Jayas it is not so black and white.

I have 1.2 irian jayas and worked with many others and ALL of them have traits of northerns,easterns etc...
Allot of these methods of idenifying Irian Jayas is almost laughable. Anterior legs haveing to be a certain color, or there sides being orangish like a northerns and they are a hybrid.

This is just a ramble pretty much but I find it offensive to call or suggest another persons animal a hybrid when there is no proof backing it. Expecially if you are someone like me that is against hybrids.

And if irians are a naturally occuring hybrid I am fine with that, but that alone would scream that there colors vary so dang much.

Basically all i am saying is with animals like this you really can not say with confidence what some are, would not even be fair to guess on some imo.

I had always thought Irian Jaya BTS are a separate species of blue tongue, just as Northerns etc. But then again I am no expect on the various species of blue tongues, pretty much know what i have read at the bluetongues network webpage and a few other sites.

All I really know for sure is I have two northern blue tongue skinks and I do like the looks of the Irian Jaya skinks LOL but am not planning on buying any. I have to put some limits on my reptile collection.
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PHLdyPayne

Yeah PH, Well they very well could be.

My main point on that post was that these guys vary so much I have seen some look almost identical to northerns and almost went past me as a northern until closer inspection.

Blue tongue skink .net is a wonderful website. One of my favorites in general. But I have found some different things in identifying irian jayas verse northers and anterior legs may help but they are NOT even close to being enough to identify the species from my experience.

All in all I think identifying a irian jaya is as simple as if it is not an extreme case( which could be a obvious hybrid) call it irian jaya. Because irian jayas when bred to another irian jaya look irian jaya it is not like they are all PURE. There are some lines of hybrids out there I am sure.
I just do not see how some person has the right to make the decision over hybrid or not and call it a fact. Make a guess and do not be critical.

I too think IJ's are beautiful, but I wanted to have a true Aussie animal, so I got an Eastern.

Below is a quote from www.bluetongueskinks.net.

The Irian Jaya Blue Tongue Skink — (T. sp)
(The Irian Jaya is as of yet, scientifically undescribed.)
The Irian Jaya is quite a misunderstood species, and is the constant topic of argument. There are several differing opinions among experts; some believing this "species" shouldn't even exist at all. It's official name at this time is Tiliqua sp.—which essentially just means "species". Part of the argument is attributed to the animal's wide range of differentiating color, markings, and general size and appearance. The animal literally has so many differing attributes, that experts just don't know which species to place it in. One theory suggests that the Irian Jaya is a natural Indonesian/Eastern hybrid that occured naturally over hundreds of years when there used to be a land bridge (isthmus) connecting Indonesia and Australia. As of right now, the "Irian Jaya" blue tongue is not classified with any latinized name. It is commonly advertised as "scincoides" with breeders and on shipping manifests because that is a theory that was introduced during its discovery in the early 90's. Many breeders, exporters and importers to this day still use the species "scincoides" while selling the Irian Jaya (or any BTS for that matter), which officially, is incorrect. The Irian Jaya blue tongue is NOT classified as a scincoides specimen, nor is it classified as an Indonesian (gigas) specimen. There are markings on this animal that display traits from both the Australian scincoides species, and the Indonesian gigas species. Thick colorful bands would suggest a scincoides classification, yet the heavily marked forelegs would suggest a gigas classification (not to mention the IJ live among the Indonesians). Glenn Shea has recently stated that until more information is gathered for the "Irian Jaya", it shall be classified as T. gigas evanescens. That however, is the classification of the Merauke. These are two clearly separate species, and should not share the same name. Perhaps one day, this beautiful specimen will receive its own classification. Until then, they are undescribed. Note: "Irian Jaya" is just a broad nickname for this animal.
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1 Eastern Blue Tongue Skink
2 Tarahumara Mountain Kingsnakes - Knoblochi
1 Thayer's Kingsnake - Thayeri
2 Golden Greek Tortoises
1 Pyxie Frog - 14 years old

Hi, Morgan! What's new?

Hey Zach, nuttin much. I still read through your forums daily--glad it's still going strong!
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1 Eastern Blue Tongue Skink
2 Tarahumara Mountain Kingsnakes - Knoblochi
1 Thayer's Kingsnake - Thayeri
2 Golden Greek Tortoises
1 Pyxie Frog - 14 years old