15.07.2026
New Reptiles to See in the Tropicarium of Saarbrücken Zoo
Three new reptile species have recently moved into the tropicarium of Saarbrücken Zoo.
A blue-tongued skink, a spiny-tailed skink, and a group of five thorny devil dragons have been added to the collection since early July.
Before the animals were presented to the public, they underwent a four-week quarantine period—as is usual for new arrivals—to check their health and allow them time to acclimate.
The move into the new enclosures varied: While the blue-tongued skink cautiously explored its surroundings right away, the spiny-tailed skink was initially somewhat reserved. The five thorny devil dragons calmly settled into their new home.
Three reptile species, three special features
The blue-tongued skink gets its name from its striking cobalt-blue tongue, which it displays when danger threatens. Predators flee at this sight, because in nature blue means: warning, poisonous! However, the skink is completely harmless. The species originally comes from Australia and parts of Indonesia.
With its spiky tail, the spiny-tailed skink resembles a small dragon. The spines mainly serve as protection. In case of danger, the skink escapes headfirst into rock crevices and seals the entrance with its tail. This species also originally comes from Australia.
The thorny devil dragon is also known for its spiny tail, which it uses for defense. It loves warmth and sunshine, is active during the day, and can change its skin color depending on the temperature. In the morning, when it is still cool, it is rather dark-colored; during the midday heat, it shifts to a lighter skin tone. The original home of the thorny devil dragon is North Africa.
Visitors now have the opportunity to observe the animals in their naturalistic enclosures and learn more about their lifestyles and natural habitats.
A look at the social media channels is worthwhile
The zoo team documented the animals’ move-in with a camera. The footage of the reptiles in their new home can be viewed on the zoo’s social media channels at
www.facebook.com/zoosaarbruecken and
www.instagram.com/zoo.saarbruecken.
Saarbrücken Zoo is one of the largest attractions in the state capital Saarbrücken, with around 200,000 visitors annually. It houses approximately 1,000 animals from more than 100 species and is actively involved in species conservation, research, and environmental education. The zoo is open daily.
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On behalf of Michaela Kakuk
Marketing and Communications
State Capital Saarbrücken – The Mayor
Marketing and Communications
Office address: Rathausplatz 1, 66111 Saarbrücken
Postal address: Rathaus St. Johann, Rathausplatz 1, 66111 Saarbrücken
Phone +49 681 905-1525
Fax +49 681 905-1604
michaela.kakuk@saarbruecken.de
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