When threatened, a Funnelweb rocks back on its hind legs and lets venom drip down its fangs. A dog raises its hackles, growls and bears its teeth. The Blue-Tongue shows it has a big blue tongue. To reinforce the bluff, the lizard stands its ground, hissing and drawing as much attention to the tongue as possible. Confronted with such an odd sight, one can't help but think that there is something to fear about tongues afterall.

Around Australian gardens, the Blue-Tongue is a popular sight where it wanders along hunting snails, spiders and other pests. But at times they have a bit of cheek about them, as they are famous for stealing dog food.

Blue-Tongues grow to 60cm in length. They don't have well defined teeth but when they bite humans, they have a tenacious habit of not letting go, contributing considerably to the pain.

Blue-Tongues live alone for most of the year, but between September and November males seek females for mating. The competition for the ladies is fierce and the males fight aggressively among themselves. Mating itself may also be rough, with females carrying scrape marks from the male's teeth. During the mating season, Blue-Tongues in New South Wales are often seen crossing roads in pairs. Sometimes the male is following the female. Sometimes the male is carrying the female.

Threats

Dogs often come across Blue-Tongues when they catch them stealing their food. Although the dog will growl, sniff and perhaps bark, the intimidating tongue usually ensures the dog keeps its distance.

The cat is not so easily fooled. As an ambush predator, cats are able to attack the Blue-Tongue before it gets a chance to show its tongue. One minute the Blue-Tongue is eating a snail, the next it has the jaws and claws of a cat sinking into its body.

Humans are another threat to the Blue-Tongue. Some garderners are of the opinion that the best way to deal with snails and slugs is to use lots of poisons. Unfortunately, when the Blue-Tongue eats the poisoned snails and slugs, they can be poisoned themselves.

The death of Blue-Tongues is neither in the interest of the species nor the garderner. When snails recover, they do so in an environment where there are no longer predators and their populations skyrocket. In the meantime, spiders such as Funnelwebs have free rein of the garden, unfettered by any predatory lizards.

The lawn mower is another major threat to the Blue-Tongue. Rather than run away from danger, Blue-Tongues prefer to hide in longer grass and get ready to show their tongue if need be. Unfortunately, a fleshy blue tongue is no match against spinning blades of metal.

Icon

1) Aboriginal mythology

In one Aboriginal legend, a fella was sitting around the campfire when he spotted the lizard. He thought to himself: "If that lizard is still around in three days I will do something terrible. My spirits will curse me for what I am going to do." Three days later the lizard was still there so he threw a bit of blue ochre at the lizard just it was poking his tongue out. The lizard has had a blue tongue ever since.

2- Bombala Blue-Tongues

Bombala is located in the heart of Australia's south east forests. In the sorrounding bushland, Wallabies, Kangaroos, Emus, Platypuses and Blue-Tongues roam freely. Perhaps this appreciation for wildlife explains why the Bombala Rugby Union Club has broken the trend of most Australian sporting teams by actually using an Australian name. The only concern with the name is that it sounds a bit like the region has been invaded by New Zealanders suffering rigor-mortis of the tongue.

3- Brisbane Blue-Tongues

When it comes to naming their sporting teams, Queenslanders generally like to pay tribute to America by giving their sporting teams some kind of yankle doodle dandy name like Broncos, Cowboys or Chargers. But the Brisbane Blue-Tongues ice hockey team is one Queensland sporting club that has taken an Australian name. Perhaps because ice hockey is a Canandian sport, those who play it aren't as passionately American as most Queenslanders.

4 - Bluetongue Brewery

Lots of good things come out of the Hunter Valley. Such products include ex-convict Molly Morgan, league star Andrew Jones, coal, McWilliams Wines and now the Bluetongue Brewery.

Industry

1) Pets - There is a great deal of affection for Blue-Tongues as pets. They have gentle personalities, longevity and undemanding husbandry. Even the intimidating tongue adds to the appeal.

In foreign countries, a captive bred jouvenile sells for around US$200. In Australia there is no industry as it is illegal in Australia to keep native animals without a permit.

Blue tongue brewery