The blue-tongue lizard is named for its striking blue tongue, which regularly darts out of its pink mouth.

There are two species of blue-tongue lizard commonly seen in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: the centralian blue-tongue (Tiliqua multifasciata) and the western blue-tongue (Tiliqua occipitalis).

These lizards appear slightly out of proportion because of their large heads, long bodies, short legs and small feet. Like all reptiles, they don’t produce body heat but need to bask in the sun to become active.

They mostly eat plants and insects but will occasionally consume other lizards. They are not very fast so tend to stick to slower prey.

One of the best-known Tjukurpa stories is about Lungkata, the greedy blue-tongue lizard man.