Habitat
Inland
bearded dragons inhabit areas from open woodlands to arid scrub and
desert regions located in Australia’s interior. They spend
a good deal of time perched on bushes, logs, rocks and structures
like fence posts, scanning their territories for food and other bearded
dragons. They bask in the sun during mornings and afternoons. |
Length
and Weight
Inland bearded dragons average 18-22 inches (46-56 cm) from snout to tip of tail.
Average weight is about 10-18 ounces (283-510 gr). Males are generally larger
than females. Although smaller in overall size, however, females are more stockier
than males. |
Life
Span
Estimated 4-10 years |
Diet
In the wild: Inland
bearded dragons are omnivorous, and eat a variety of animal
and plant materials. These include insects and other small
animals they can overpower, plus occasionally fruits, leaves
and flowers.
At
the zoo: Meal
worms, crickets and greens. Supplemented with vitamin/mineral
powder.
|
Reproduction
Inland bearded dragons reach sexual maturity at 1 to 2 years of age.
During courtship, a male will indicate his interest by rapidly
bobbing his head. If the female is receptive to the male's
overture, she will begin to bob her head, but at a slower rate.
During copulation, a male's throat area “- beard”will
visibly darken to nearly black, while a female's throat darkens
to a lesser extent. Females normally lay clutches of 15-25 eggs
in shallow nests dug into sandy soil. Hatchlings weigh about .07
ounces (2 gr) at birth and average 4 inches (10 cm) in length.
Young usually grow rapidly and gain adult size within a year.
Life Cycle
Inland bearded dragons live in harsh environments and are
well adapted to eat whatever food is available. During lean seasons,
they survive on nutrients and fat reserves stored in their large abdomens.
If required, they will dig into the ground and remain dormant for long
periods of time until unfavorable conditions, such as unusually hot
or cold weather, improve.
Black Beard
Inland bearded dragons have broad, triangular (arrow-shaped) heads, varying
size body scales and rather short tails. Males have a much broader head
than females. The beard”in its name comes from the flared-out
throat that looks like a beard. Scales along the side of their head, throat
and side of their bodies have evolved into rather soft spines. Coloration
varies among the different races of the inland bearded dragons, from uniform
tan to chocolate brown. The male's’beard tends to be darker than
the females. They may have a variety of chevron patterns down their backs,
and different hues to the head, throat and tail.
Dragon's That Wave!
Juvenile inland bearded dragons express subservience toward larger, more aggressive
inland bearded dragons by standing on three legs and waving their other
limb in slow circles, bring it down and doing the same with the other leg.
Males normally discontinue arm-waving as they reach maturity, but females
will continue to wave” toward aggressive males during the
breeding season and while copulating.
When threatened by another inland bearded dragon or a possible predator,
an inland bearded dragon will challenge the intruder by head-bobbing, flattening
outs its body, flaring out its throat and displaying the colorful lining of
its gaping mouth. During combat, two inland bearded dragons will circle one
another, mouths open, hissing and trying to bite the other's tail to
drive away intruders.
|
Fascinating
Facts
- Unlike some other
lizard species, inland bearded dragons cannot drop their
tail as a defensive maneuver. If it is bitten
off by an adversary,
that portion of the tail will not grow back!
- In captivity, a
well-fed female inland bearded dragon may lay more than 100
eggs each year!
|
Inland
bearded dragons can be seen in a large exhibit at Woodland Park Zoo's
Day Exhibit. They share their quarters with the unusual and interesting
shingleback and blue-tongued skinks.
Most
inland bearded dragons in captivity are descended from lizards illegally
exported from Australia
and smuggled into the United States or Europe during the 1980s (Australia
does not permit commercial export of its wildlife). Woodland Park
Zoo first received inland bearded dragons from the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, nine lizards that were seized when they were found
being smuggled into the United States via international mail.
In
spite of their ancestors’likely illegal entry, inland bearded
dragons and other captive-bred reptiles are better choices as pets
since they did not have to be taken from the wild, impacting natural
populations. Inland bearded dragons are the most readily available
and popular bearded lizard, due to their gentle disposition and tolerance
for handling. Most inland bearded dragons owned as pets are captive-bred.
This cannot be said, however, for many wild reptile species. Many
species of snakes, lizards, crocodiles and turtles are removed from
the wild for the pet trade or are killed to make products for sale.
As a result, many reptiles are endangered or are declining rapidly.
How You Can Help!
The effort to save endangered species requires cooperation and support at the
international, national, regional and individual levels. You can help in
this cause. Join and become active in Woodland Park Zoo and other conservation
organizations of your choice. Don't buy products made from wild animal
parts and buy only captive-bred reptiles as pets.
Contact Woodland Park Zoo at webkeeper@zoo.org to find out other ways you can
support conservation programs at the zoo. Discover more about lizards and
other reptiles by contacting the Society for the Study of Amphibians and
Reptiles at 303 W. 39th St., PO Box 626, Hays, KS 67601. Learn other ways
you can help conserve wildlife and the habitats they require for survival
by visiting our How You Can Help page.
Reptiles as Pets
We do not recommend reptiles as pets for most people as they require very specialized diets and environments. We also receive hundreds of requests each year to take former pet iguanas, boas and other reptiles but we cannot accept these due to space, health and unknown backgrounds. If you need to find a reptile or amphibian a new home, we suggest you contact a local herpetological group in your area. In the Puget Sound region, it is the Pacific Northwest Herpetological Society.
Sources and Suggested
Reading
Cogger, Harold G. 1992. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. Cornell University
Press, Ithaca, NY. 775 p.
Vosjoli, Philippe de and Robert Mailloux. 1993. The General Care and Maintenance
of Bearded Dragons. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc., Lakeside, CA. 63 p.
For Kids!
Matero, Robert. 1993. Reptiles (Eyes on Nature Series). Kidsbooks,
Inc., Chicago, IL. 29 p.
* Woodland Park Zoo identifies an animal or plant
endangered if it is listed as endangered (in any part of its range)
on the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants,
or if it is listed on Appendix I to the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). |
Classification
and Range
