Going Wild: The SkinkUPDATED 8:10 PM HST Apr 18, 2014Video Transcript
scaly and has a forked tongue? Some type of snake? Not quite... But a distant relative called The blue tongued skink. KITV's Ashley Moser has this week's Going Wild... all new at 6:00. 20-24 42-47 pkg A snake with disproportionate legs? Well that's one way to describe a skink. Most know them for their tongue. Big, blue, and distinct. This native Australian reptile is now found as a pet all over the world. But the key to its survival: the sunlight! L 4:26:38 "THE HAVE TO SOLARIZE IN THE SUN TO GET GOING TO GO HUNTING. AND THEN AFTER THEY GET THEIR FILL THE SUN HELPS THEM METABOLIZE THAT FOOD DOWN." 4:26:47 They're known for basking in the sun. And when they have too much of it... looking for a shady place to rest. Keepers say they're often confused with snakes and lizards...but one characteristic setting them apart... is right on their head. 4:28:25 "THE EARS. THEY HAVE EAR HOLES AND SNAKES DO NOT HAVE EARHOLES. YEAH?" 2:28:29 Ears to hear and a tongue to taste. But keepers say that slimy blue body part does much more than devour breakfast. 4:30:44 "They'll stick out the tongue pick up OUT THE TONGUE...DROP IT DOWN AND JUST WAVE IT. THEY HAVE A NICE BRIGHT COLOR ON THE SIDE A PINKISH COLOR SO ALL THAT COLOR IS SUPPOSED ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT IT AND GO AH! YOU KNOW AND GET AWAY." 4:25:56 I technique that keepers say works most of the time on predators. But when they're the ones on the prowl ...what satisfies their hunger? They're omnivores ...eating fruits, vegetables, meat and occasionally insects. 4:29:03 "PRETTY MUCH THEY EAT LIKE WE DO. EXCEPT FOR THE CANDY AND ALL THAT GARBAGE HAHA" 4:29:08 Ashley Moser... KITV 4 news! The skink's coat looks shiny and slimy ...but it's not wet at all.