Threaten this shy Australian skink and you just might see how it got its name. Though fairly small, this little lizard can put on a big show when cornered. It puffs up its body, hisses at its attacker, and sticks out its long, blue tongue.

The blue-tongued skink is a ground-dweller, spending its day either searching for insects, snails, fruits, berries and wildflowers, or basking in the sun. At night the skink sleeps in fallen logs or leaf litter.

Female blue-tongued skinks give birth to up to 25 live babies. The young take about three years to mature.