Imagine your curious feline friend roaming around the garden, eyes fixed on a darting creature with a captivating blue tail. As a vigilant pet parent, it’s natural to wonder, “Are blue tailed lizards poisonous to cats?”
This article will quench your curiosity and shed light on the potential dangers these vibrant reptiles might pose to our beloved furry companions. We’ll explore whether blue tailed lizards are poisonous to cats and even touch upon their impact on our canine pals.
Lizards with bright blue tails exist across different species, from skinks to whiptails. While some are blue only as juveniles, others retain their vibrant colors into adulthood. If you’ve spotted a lizard with a flashy blue tail chances are it’s one of these 16 species.
Skinks
Skinks account for most of the lizards with blue tails. These smooth shiny lizards span several genera like Plestiodon and Trachylepis.
1. Coal Skink
The coal skink (Plestiodon anthracinus) inhabits the eastern US. Adults reach 18 cm and have four bold black stripes. Males turn reddish during mating season. Juveniles sport electric blue tails that fade to gray with age.
2. Mountain Skink
Native to eastern North America, the mountain skink (Plestiodon callicephalus) grows to 7 cm. It has a brown body with black stripes and a yellowish Y-shaped head pattern. The bright blue tail persists into adulthood.
3. Mole Skink
Also called the blue-tailed mole skink, this southeast US lizard has a brown, cylindrical body under 15 cm long. Juveniles have neon blue tails that turn pinkish with age. Males flash orange sides in mating season.
4. Broad-headed Skink
Reaching 33 cm, the broad-headed skink (Plestiodon laticeps) inhabits the southeast US. Females have light stripes while males develop reddish-orange heads and black bodies for mating. Juveniles are dark with vivid blue tails.
5. Prairie Skink
A small lizard of the northern US and Canada, the prairie skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis) grows to 20 cm with brown scales and pale stripes. Only juveniles exhibit blue tails.
6. Western Skink
With its distinctive dark lateral band, the western skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) reaches 20 cm. Though juveniles have blue tails, adults are brown with black and white stripes. This species lives in western North America.
7. Four-lined Skink
Both the long-lined and short-lined four-lined skinks (Plestiodon tetragrammus) of the eastern US have juvenile blue tails. Adults are light brown with four dark stripes down the body. They grow up to 18 cm long.
8. Great Plains Skink
Inhabiting the Great Plains and southcentral US, this large skink hits 34 cm in length. Juveniles have pale spots on the head and bright blue tails that fade with maturity. Adults are grayish brown with dark diagonal markings.
9. Southeastern Five-lined Skink
Common in the southeast US, juveniles of this skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus) have black bodies with blue tails and reddish heads. Adults are brown with five faint stripes. They reach 20 cm long.
10. African Five-lined Skink
Also known as the rainbow skink, the African five-lined skink (Trachylepis quinquetaeniata) grows to 20 cm. Native to Africa, juveniles are black with greenish gray bodies and striking blue tails. Adults have three brown stripes.
Whiptails
These long-tailed lizards in the genus Aspidoscelis also include blue-tailed species.
11. Desert Grassland Whiptail
A female-only species of the US southwest, this lizard (Aspidoscelis uniparens) has a brown body fading to blue on the very long tail, which exceeds the 14 cm body length. Juveniles are brighter blue.
12. Marbled Whiptail
Reaching 30 cm, the marbled whiptail (Aspidoscelis marmorata) lives from Texas to Mexico. It has a brown or black body with light stripes and a solid blue tail in juveniles.
13. Little Striped Whiptail
The little striped whiptail (Aspidoscelis inornata) has dark stripes on a yellowish body and a blue tail and belly on juveniles. A resident of the US southwest and Mexico, adults grow to 23 cm long.
14. Orange-throated Whiptail
Native to southern California and Mexico, the orange-throated whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythra) is distinguished by the male’s orange throat. Juveniles of both sexes have blue tails, legs, and bellies that fade with age. Adults reach 19 cm.
Others
A couple other lizards with blue tails include:
15. Desert Spiny Lizard
Males of this spiny-scaled resident of the southwestern US and Mexico (Sceloporus magister) develop blue patches as adults. Females and juveniles lack blue, instead having spots on their brown backs. They grow up to 15 cm long.
16. Ashy Gecko
Though native to the West Indies, this small nocturnal gecko (Sphaerodactylus elegans) has been introduced in Florida. Juveniles have green and black banded bodies with red or blue tails. Adults reach 7 cm long and are grayish brown.
So if you spot a dash of blue scurrying by, it just might be one of these colorful lizards. With blue tails of all shades, these reptiles showcase an array of brilliant hues.
Are Blue Tailed Lizards Poisonous to Cats?
The short answer: not exactly. Blue tailed lizards, despite their striking appearance, are not inherently poisonous to cats. In other words, they won’t inject a deadly toxin like some venomous snakes might. However, there’s more to this story that you should be aware of.
- The Bright Blue Deception: That electric blue tail isn’t just for show; it serves a clever purpose. When threatened, blue tailed lizards might shed their tails as a distraction, leaving the wiggling tail behind to confuse predators. While this tail doesn’t contain venom, it could potentially cause mild stomach upset if ingested by your curious kitty.
- Curiosity and Consequences: Cats are natural hunters, driven by an insatiable curiosity to explore and sometimes even taste the unknown. If your feline friend decides to have a nibble on a blue tailed lizard, the consequences might be discomforting but usually not severe. In most cases, mild symptoms like drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea might occur as the digestive system reacts to the unusual meal.
- A Word on Dogs: Now, what about our canine companions? The good news is that blue tailed lizards are generally not poisonous to dogs either. Just like with cats, ingesting a lizard might lead to minor tummy troubles in dogs. However, due to differences in their behaviors and preferences, dogs are less likely to find these skittish reptiles enticing.
While blue tailed lizards are not truly poisonous to cats or dogs, their vibrant appearance and curious behavior might pique the interest of your pets. Remember that prevention is key, and a watchful eye on your furry friends during outdoor adventures can go a long way in ensuring their safety.
So, the next time your cat gazes at that captivating blue tail, you can rest assured that while not dangerous, a lizard-laden nibble might still lead to an upset tummy.
How to Care for a Blue Tailed Skink | Blue Tailed Skink 101
FAQ
Are blue-tailed lizards venomous?
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Not Venomous:Blue-tailed lizards, or five-lined skinks, are not venomous, meaning they don’t possess venom glands to inject poison.
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Harmless to Humans:They are generally harmless to humans and pose no threat of poisoning or serious harm through their bites.
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Bites are Rare and Mild:While skinks may bite if they feel threatened, their bites are typically not venomous and don’t cause serious harm beyond minor irritation.
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Folklore and Misconceptions:Some people mistakenly believe these lizards are venomous, possibly due to their bright blue tails or folklore associating them with scorpions, but this is false.
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Diet:Five-lined skinks eat roaches, spiders, and other arthropods, as well as worms and even baby mice.
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Tail Drop:Like other skinks, they can drop their tail to distract a predator and make an escape.
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Not Ideal for Handling:Blue-tailed skinks are not the best pets for regular handling, they prefer observing and exploring their surroundings rather than being held frequently.
Can you touch a blue tail lizard?
Blue-Tailed Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus): This North American skink species is not poisonous but can secrete a foul-smelling substance from its cloacal glands when threatened. While not harmful to humans, this secretion can be unpleasant.
What kind of lizards have blue tails?
The southeastern five-lined skink, often called the blue-tailed skink, might not be as blue as you’d think. In fact, this skink’s colors change throughout its life. As juveniles, they have bright blue tails and five light yellow stripes running down their brown or black bodies.
How rare is a blue-tailed skink?
The Christmas Island blue-tailed skink is now extinct in the wild. However, Taronga Zoo currently has an active breeding program hosted by Taronga Conservation Society, which originated from 66 skinks that were brought into captivity before their population was wiped out.
What species of lizards have blue tails?
Several species of lizards are known for having blue tails. The blue-tailed lizard is one such species, which is common in North America. Other lizards with blue tails include certain species of Plestiodon skinks, such as the Western Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus) and the five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus).
Which lizard has a bright tail?
A large arboreal lizard, Uganda Blue-headed Tree Agamas has a bright tail base and a bright body close to the tail. The body part closer to its head is also dark blue, as are its front legs. Common variants include bright blue lizards with a similar color pattern.
What happens to the blue tail of a skink lizard over time?
With time, their blue tails fade, along with their bright blue tails. Older lizards can turn to be all brown. On the side of their head is a red marking that can help distinguish them from other skinks. If skinks feel threatened, like when being picked up, they will bite.
Are blue tailed skinks natural lizards?
Like other lizard species, the blue-tailed skink can regrow its tail with time. The rest of the body is more natural-colored. Blue-tailed skinks typically have bodies of dark gray, brown, and black. While those colors are standard fare in the reptile world, the hues make up a unique pattern on the skink’s body.
How big do blue tailed skink lizards get?
Pacific blue-tailed skinks live for about seven in the wild. Blue-tailed skinks are on the smaller side of the size spectrum. How big your lizard can get will depend on the specific species you have. American blue-tailed skinks are the larger of the two, growing to lengths of 8.5 inches in the wild.
Why do lizards have blue tails?
When detached, it writhes back and forth to distract a predator while the lizard escapes. The lizard will grow a new tail. The bright blue coloring on the tail of a juvenile skink tends to distract a predator from the main body of the lizard. Sometimes only the blue tail can be seen as the lizard rushes through grass or leaves.