are born in this mode, there is no risk of predators stealing the eggs. On average, each female has about 10 offspring and due to this process, the offspring all have an elevated level of survival. Female lizards give birth to 6-20 young per year. Similar to other animals, these offspring are nourished by the primitive placenta. Tiliqua scincoides scincoides are precocial species, meaning that they are born at a more advanced developmental stage and therefore do not require as much parental care because their brain is mostly developed at the time of their birth, unlike altricial species. A study done on these lizards found that adults and juveniles are able to distinguish between color and shape stimuli successfully and one was not superior in learning capabilities. This study highlights the idea that Tiliqua scincoides scincoides are behaviorally flexible and adaptable in both adulthood and youth, specifically in reversal learning. These results, however, did not support the formation of an attentional set. Interestingly enough, research has been done that has shown that sexual maturity occurs at different body sizes depending on the location that a male Tiliqua scincoides scincoides resides. For example, it was found that sexuality maturity happens at smaller body sizes in southern part of Australia than in Queensland. Lifespan In captivity, the eastern blue-tongued lizard can live in excess of 20 years. Predators and parasites Reptile ticks Blue tongued lizards can be attacked by reptile ticks which attach under their scales or inside of their ear canal. These reptile ticks do not cause paralysis and do not latch onto mammals, only onto reptiles. Other than ticks, mites and nematode worms are also parasites to the eastern blue tongue. Other predators Blue tongues fall prey to large snakes and large predatory birds. The large snakes include the mulga snake (Pseudechis australis), the red bellied black snake, the black headed python (Aspidites malanocephalus), and the eastern brown snake The large predatory birds include the laughing kookaburras and brown falcons. Eastern blue tongued lizards can also be eaten by feral dogs and cats. Other predators of the eastern blue tongue include goannas, dingoes, and domestic cats and dogs. Behavior and physiology Tiliqua scincoides scincoides show very little aggression and are said to be docile and shy. The eastern blue tongued lizard has a blue tongue in order to scare off potential predators. When predators approach the lizard, it opens its