The Australian Dragon Catalogue

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The concept, text, lay-out and all images
contained in this publication are by
Gunther Schmida
and protected by copyright.
This preview shows only the first eight pages in actual
size, all other pages are much reduced, each image
shown in this preview representing a full screen page in
the finished volume. This also contains the
common and scientific names, author and year of
description, places of origin ( or ancestry, if captive bred),
and actual size of the dragons in the images. (This is
important, as juveniles often look different from adults.)
The
Australian
Dragon Catalogue
Edition 6-15
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Frilled Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii - Darwin - NT
Gunther Schmida
The
Australian
Dragon Catalogue
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Eastern Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata (Cuvier 1829)
Concept, lay-out, text and photography © Gunther Schmida
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Chameleon Dragon Chelosania brunnea Gray 1845
Photographic assistants:
Terry Adams, Dr. Gavin Bedford, Matthew Bonnett, Dr. Danny Brown, Angus Emmott,
Martin Fingland, Ralph Foster, Cliff Guest, Grant Husband, Robert Porter, Robert Pulvirenti,
Paul Singline, Gary Stephenson, Jason Sulda, Steve Swanson and Steve Wilson.
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Eyrean Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis tetraporophora
15 cm - Winton - C-Qld.
Australian Dragons
Over 900 different species of reptiles have been recorded in
Australia, and more than 80 of these are lizards of the ‘old world’
family Agamidae, known in Australia as dragons, with more new
species still being discovered. The Australian species are grouped
into 15 genera. (Cogger, 2014)
The family occurs in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and much of the
western pacific region, but not in Americas and Madagascar where
the similar looking iguana lizards occur.
Two species of these are also known from Fiji.
All Australian dragons are sun loving lizards. Some are tiny, barely
reaching a total length of 10 cm, whilst the largest reach sizes of 80
cm or more.
Some of the larger dragons have become iconic creatures well
known around the world. The best known of these are doubtlessly the
bearded dragons, with one species now being the most popular lizard
maintained in captivity around the world, due to its people friendly
behaviour and ease of breeding.
Also well known are the two largest dragons, the frill-neck lizard and
the eastern water dragon - the latter being of more robust build,
and the small but very unusual looking moloch, or thorny devil, with
its robot-like gait.
All dragons have comparatively large triangular or bulbous heads,
attached to the robust bodies with distinct necks. The tails are mostly
long - even prehensile in some species. Tails are not readily
discarded as in some other lizards and are only partially regenerated
by some if accidentally lost. The skin of dragons is covered with
rough, sometimes spiky scales and may have adornments like large
tubercles, ‘beards’, frills, crests and dewlaps. The bizarre looking
moloch is covered with large, but relatively soft thorns all over.
The limbs are well developed, the hind legs usually longer and with
longer toes than the ones in front. All possess sharp claws.
Eastern Water Dragon
Intellagama l. lesueuri
Dominant male - 60 cm - Gold Coast - SE-Qld.
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Red-barred Dragon Ctenophorus vadnappa - 24 cm - Chamber’s Gorge - Flinders Ranges - South Australia
Many dragons are swift moving lizards, darting in short burst around their habitats, with some being able to run even faster on their
hind legs only, should the need arise, with the frill-necked lizard probably being the best known species with this ability. However, a
few move in slow deliberate ways, or relay on their camouflage colour patterns to blend into the surroundings, and instead of fleeing,
stay motionless when they sense danger.
The majority of Australian dragons occur in hot arid habitats and many are active in extremely hot conditions. In the south of the
continent they become inactive during the cool months of the year. Several distinct groups can be recognized. There are dragons
living in rocky areas and others that live on sandy terrain. The males of many of these are vividly coloured lizards, especially during
the spring to early summer breeding season. A few have taken to a life amongst grass tussocks and other low vegetation, others
have adapted to a life in trees, with some of the latter occurring in rainforests. There are also dragons occurring in all manner of
habitats.
Only one, a south-eastern Australian species also lives in Tasmania.
The water dragons, as their name implies, are usually found near water, retreat to it in case of danger, and are even known to sleep
underwater, rising periodically to breathe.
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Moloch or Thorny Devil Moloch horridus - 20 cm - Soudan Station - Barkly Tableland - NT
Dragons feed largely on insects and other invertebrates, the larger ones also taking small vertebrates like frogs and lizards.
Some also eat plant matter. Their broad fleshy and somewhat sticky tongue is useful to pick up and manipulate food items. Thorny
devils only eat certain types of ants.
Some of the larger species, like water and bearded dragons, as well as some of the smaller ones, are arguably the most commonly
seen of all Australian lizards due to their habit of sitting upright in elevated positions such as rocks, boulders, termite mounds, tree
trunks, or even fence posts. With territorial species these are usually males keeping an eye over their domain. Water dragons in
particular are often seen as they have successfully adapted to urban life in much of their range.
Many dragons live in family groups consisting of a dominant and several sub-ordinate males, a number of females and their offspring
occupying a territory. Depending on species, they communicate with arm waving, head bobbing, spreading of ‘beards’ or frills,
erecting colourful skin crest along the back, and even coiling tails, whilst simultaneously rocking their hindquarters up and down.
The sexes of most dragons are easily told apart, with males generally being larger and more colourful than females. The colours get
even brighter during the breeding season.
All dragons lay leathery-shelled eggs, and often more than once during a season. Their number depending largely on the size of the
species. The eggs are deposited in burrows dug into the soil of their habitats, and depending on species and temperatures, take
between 45 and 120 days to hatch. Life spans have been recorded from a few to almost 30 years.
Dragons are hunted by many avian predators, snakes, carnivorous lizards and introduced pests, especially feral cats, foxes and
dogs. In the past, they were also an important food source for Australia’s first people.
Burns Dragon Ampbibolurus burnsi (Wells & Wellington, 1985)
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Male - 35 cm - Glenmorgan - SE-Qld - A tree dragon usually occurring along water courses.
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Specimens courtesy of:
Terry Adams
Dr. Gavin Bedford
Steven Castell
Martin Fingland
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Cliff Guest
Dr. Danny Brown
Angus Emmott
Ralph Foster
Robert Porter
Gary Stephenson
Northern Territory Wildlife Park - Darwin
[email protected]
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