Do Blue Tongued Skinks Explode?

Location: Francois National Park, WA

If you’d asked me this question pre-skink squishing I’d have been certain you’d be sure to witness an explosion of some velocity! Lab goggles most definately required! However, along with the three of us who were perched, enjoying a (terrific) drive through one of WA’s best 4×4 tracks, I think you’d be surprised!

It wasn’t until the last minute we spotted the little fella, basking in the sun as we rolled over the crest of a hill. He was lying there in all his podginess at the bottom of the tyre crevice the right side of our vehicle was happily zipping along in. It was far beyond enough time to stop the car before him, let alone change course (and consequently tumble through the Australian bush) so the only choice the three of us had was to look at each other, pull yucky faces and scream ‘eeuuuuurrrrgggghh’ noises until we were ready to witness the contents of a 2 foot lizard’s icky innards now lining the underside of the car.

We all got out of the car, amazed to be greeted by a not particularly impressed blue Tongue squealing at us. He was not happy. Being Australian, he was surely blurting some pretty graphic curses at us, not that we understood – we were just grateful for the photo opportunity and the fact he had not passed away with an explosive BANG!