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AMPHIBIANS:
Pac Man Frog
BIRDS:
Chickens
Cockatoo, Sulfer Crested
Chinese Geese
Ducks
Helmeted Guinea Fowl
Macaw, Blue & Yellow
Miniature Macaw
Parrot, Amazon
MAMMALS:
Black Bear
Bobcat
Capuchin, Black & White
Coati Mundis
Cougar
Deer, Fallow
Ferrets
Goat (Pygmy)
Hedgehog
Lemur, Ringtailed
Leopard, black
Liger
Lion (African)
Lion (Barbary)
Macaque, Java
Macaque, Snow
Marmoset
Pig
Sheep
Tiger (Bengal)
Tiger (Siberian)
Vervet
Wolves
Zebra
REPTILES:
Alligator
Anaconda
Bearded Dragon
Boa, Columbian
California King Snake
Corn Snake
Iguana
Lizard, African Plated
Python, Burmese
Python, Reticulated
Python, Royal
Skink, Blue Tongue
Tortoise, Spurred
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| Bearded
Dragon |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
This
unusual mid-sized stocky agamid lizard has prominent spines along
its sides and a large, essentially triangle-shaped head. Forming a
sort of shield around the snout is a spiney jaw pouch which, when
swollen, looks like a beard and makes any predator think twice before
attacking. This wide-ranging species shows considerable geographic
variation; its basic color varies from shades of brown, gray, and
reddish-brown to bright orange. The ventral surface ranges from pale
to dark gray, with white elongated spots edged with black. Mature
males have dark "beards" which become black during courtship
and breeding. Adults can grow as large as ten inches in body length
or two feet in total length, including the tail. Males are larger
than females.
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| GEOGRAPHICAL
RANGE AND HABITAT: |
These
lizards are native to Central Australia. They prefer semi-arid to
arid woodland habitats. Time is spent both on the ground and in trees.
They may be found perched on bush branches and even on fence posts.
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| DIET: |
| Bearded
dragons are omnivorous and consume many types of insects, small
vertebrates, and vegetation including fruits and flowers.
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| LIFE
CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE: |
Sexual
maturity is reached at one to two years of age. Mature females typically
lay clutches of eleven to sixteen oblong leathery eggs in early summer.
The eggs are laid in nests dug in sandy soil and the unattended young
hatch 3 months later.
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| SPECIAL
ADAPTATIONS: |
| A
bulky body and the habit of basking allows them to store heat, making
it possible to operate at lower temperatures than other lizards.
They can also survive higher temperatures for several hours, since
they can regulate body temperature by evaporation.
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| INTERPRETIVE
INFORMATION: |
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When
intimidated, they flatten their bodies and stand erect with mouth
gaping. The light-colored mouth lining, spines bordering the lower
jaw and puffed-out blackish beard give a formidable appearance.
This defensive display has earned these lizards the common name
of "bearded dragon".
Aggressiveness to other members of the group is shown through "body
language". The tip of the tail is slightly curved at the end
and the head is bobbed rapidly. Submission is signaled by rotating
the arms in a full circular motion, which looks a bit like waving.
Ritualistic sparring matches take place in which both animals are
in flat postures, beards and tails up and outward; they circle each
other, biting at one another's tail, but usually no damage is done.
Their ability to change
shades of color, from light to dark, helps them to regulate body
temperature. Color changes can also depend on emotional state, and
may also be used for concealment. When injured, sick, or dying the
back becomes black and the legs pale yellow.
Australian desert lizards
often make their escape by rising on their hind legs and running
bipedally. They cannot run as fast as when using four feet, but
perhaps this behavior aids in temperature control. They lift their
bodies from the hot ground to lose the heat they generate in running.
This reduces the amount of heat they take in from the ground and
increases the cooling airflow over their bodies.
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| STATUS
IN WILD: |
| Not
considered endangered or threatened.
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| Special
thanks to the Oakland Zoo website where most of this data was obtained.
Please visit them at http://www.oaklandzoo.org |
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