Bearded dragon
Bearded dragons are agamid lizards in the genus Pogona.
| Bearded dragon | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
| |
| A bearded dragon in the Frankfurt Zoo | |
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Pogona
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pogona vitticeps Ahl, 1926
| |
The central bearded dragon is the common name for Pogona vitticeps, which lives in dry areas of Australia The name "bearded dragon" refers to the fringes around and under the head. The underside of the throat turns black if they are stressed or see a potential rival.
Description
Central bearded dragons can grow to about 2 feet long. Half of the length of a bearded dragon's body is its tail. Females are usually smaller than males. If a bearded dragon is scared, it will flatten its body against the ground, puff out its spiky throat, and open its jaws to make itself look larger. Bearded dragons sometimes open their mouths wide to allow hot air to warm them better when they are lying in the sun. They also open their mouths to help them cool down; the warm air and heat escapes through their mouths. This behavior is similar to panting.
Diet
Central bearded dragons eat small and large insects, such as grasshoppers and worms. They also eat leaves, fruit, vegetables and flowers. They get most of their water from the food they eat, but they also need to drink sometimes. You can also give them horn worms (tomato worms) once or twice an every two months as a treat.
Bearded Dragon Media
Captive adult measuring over 30 cm (1 ft)
Galore Hill Nature Reserve, New South Wales, Australia
Skeleton at the Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Bearded dragon with mouth agape
Through selective breeding, bearded dragons can have various colors and patterns.
Bearded dragon eating dandelion leaves
3-month-old bearded dragon
Bearded dragon.
Bearded dragon baby. From East Bay Vivarium in Berkeley, California, USA.
A male bearded dragon looking at his meal (off-screen)
