Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was impressed by this pair of new BTS selling at Ben Siegels table a the expo. Asking price $10,000 pr., and they sold. Does anyone know anything about them?

Western Blue-tongued Skink Tiliqua occipitalis (Peters 1863)

The Western Blue-tongued Skink is rare to the point of being virtually non-existent in the hobby. It has been rumoured that a very small number (under 10) of them came into the United States illegally in the early 90's. Because there have been no reports of captive reproduction from them, it is probable that they were either sold to foreign buyers or they may have been sterilized, at the point of origin, in order to thwart captive reproduction and maintain a demand, thus guaranteeing future profits for the smugglers. This is a known practice of smugglers, and it has been documented with other species numerous times. This is, after all, their business, and it is their way of maintaining "job security". Up until 2001 I had not been able to confirm any of the claims or reports of the existence of Tiliqua occipitalis specimens here in the U.S. However, in 2001 that all changed with 2.2.1 specimens being imported through European channels. Until recently these animals were in the care of a breeder (joe Lewis of Rare Earth)of different rare reptiles in Virginia, and (fore a time) it appeared that the females were gravid. However, they did not produce, and they were later sold off. I have a good friend in Mesa, Arizona that purchased 1.1 of them. We know that Ben has 1.1, so there is one more unsexed stragler that is floating around outthere somewhere. Hopefully, these skinks will reproduce in captivity and make this once unavailable species attainable (at least to those collectors with very fat pocket books).

Description: Western Blue-tongued Skinks are a pale yellowish-brown color with 4 to 6 thick brown bands that are about twice as wide as the paler interspaces. These bands frequently contain scattered pale scales, and get lighter as they move down to the flanks. The bands get darker as they continue back onto the tail, which accounts for 40-55% of the snout-vent length. The top of the head is a light brown coloration that turns dark brown at the tip of the snout. There is a pronounced black temporal streak from behind the eye to just above the ear. The forelimbs are a yellowish tan, while the hind limbs are patterned with brown or dark brown and sometimes almost solid black. The anterior temporal scales are not elongated, and similar in size and shape to the other temporal scales. Western Blue-tongued Skinks can grow as large as 19 inches, and females give birth to 5-10 live young.

Distribution and habitat: The Western Blue-tongue Skink can be found in most of arid regions of southern Australia from Shark Bay in Western Australia to South Australia and the south-western portion of the Northern Territory into western New South Wales and Victoria. It can be found in a variety of arid desert habitats, often with an association to mallee and spinifex (Triodia) communities in which it is sympatric with the Centralian Blue-tongue (Tiliqua multifaciata) in the northern portion of its range.

As James described them, they are Tiliqua occipitalis, the Western BTS. And they are awesome creatures. I simply love them.

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Edward
Carpe diem

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Edward
Carpe diem

SOUTHERN FLORIDA CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Location: LEE/1

VERY Nice pics Edward. Thanks for sharing.

Brian
SFCRC

I know at least 4 people here in Europe who have them.
Only one is breeding them.( not every year )
We saw a lot of these BTS on our trips "Down Under"

Johan.