Bearded dragon
There are three types of bearded
dragons in Australia;
the Eastern Bearded Dragon
(Pogona Barbata)the Pygmy
Bearded Dragon (P. henrylawsoni)
the Central Bearded Dragon
(Pogona vitticeps)
The Eastern Bearded Dragon
occurs along the length of the Great
Dividing Range and is replaced in
arid areas by the Central Bearded
Dragon. The Pygmy Bearded
Dragon is native to the plains of
Central Queensland.
Bearded dragons are a sun-loving
species and are quite often seen
basking on the side of a road or on
fence posts and logs. Bearded
dragons are known for the
distinctive flap of skin which lies
below their bottom jaw. If
threatened, the bearded dragon will
imediately take on a defensive
posture by opening their mouths
and pushing their throat skin
forward to make their beard
protrude as far forward as
possible having combined this with
the strong spikes which line the
lizard's throat and the side of its
body acting as a wonderful
deterrent to most predators.
Of the three species, the pygmy dragon's beard is
less pronounced. Measuring 10 -15 cm from head to
vent (the anus), it is roughly half the size of the
central and eastern bearded dragons (each of
which can grow up to 30 cm from head to vent).
The tail of each of these species is about the same
length as their body.
Thus the larger lizards may grow as long as 60 cm.
Compared to the pygmy bearded dragon, the head
of the central and eastern bearded dragon is much
broader in relation to its body. All three are
predominantly grey in colour with some variation
towards orange, fawn, brown and black. This
variation is largely dependant on locality,
temperature, and in the case of the central and
eastern bearded dragons, selective breeding.
Bearded dragons regulate their body temperature
through subtle changes in shades of colour, from
light to dark; becoming darker in cooler weather
and vice-versa. Colour change can also depend on
emotional state, with colouration becoming more
obvious when startled or in an aggressive posture.
Selective breeding, especially amongst United
States based herpetologists, has influenced colour
variation such that distinctive oranges, blues, reds,
apricot and tiger stripes are apparent in the central
bearded dragons and white is known to occur in
the eastern bearded dragon