Classification
Bearded dragons are lizards which belong to the genus “pogona” (familiy: agamidae). They are subdivided into eight species which all originate in Australia:
- Pogona vitticeps (also known as inland or central bearded dragon)
- Pogona henrylawsoni (also known as Lawson's or Rankin's bearded dragon)
- Pogona mitchelli
- Pogona mitchelli
- Pogona minor
- Pogona barbata
- Pogona minima
- Pogona nullarbor
- Pogona microlepidota
Pogona vitticeps plays the biggest role in the pet industry. Therefore this website focusses on this species.
Natural environment
The central bearded dragon can be found in the eastern central parts of Australia. Pogona vitticeps inhabits arid, rocky semi-desert regions but also arid open woodlands.
The climate is dominated by high temperatures and little humidity. Bearded dragons are often seen basking on rocks or small trees.
Appearance
The central bearded dragon can achieve a total length of approximately 50cm (20 inches). The tail makes up more than half of it. Depending on the individual nutrition, living conditions, health and genes, bearded dragons reach their full length by 1-2 years although they usually get sexually mature earlier (approximately 8-12 months).
Bearded dragons appear in very different colours. Feral animals are mostly coloured in shades of grey and brown. In the last years a lot of breeders have specialized in different color morphs (as Red, Yellow, Translucent, Hypo Pastel...). Even bearded dragons with a different skin texture are bred (Leather Back, Silkback) nowadays.
Bearded dragons have a diamond-shaped pattern on their back which gets less visible when they get older. In order to scare off predators, bearded dragons are equipped with spiky scales on their head, throat, neck and both sides of the body. Their ability to flare out the throat, when they feel threatened or want to claim their territorial, is the reason why they are called “bearded dragons”. The long pointed tail is banded. Their flexible toes enable them to climb very well.
With help of the pigment melanin bearded dragons are able to darken the color of their skin.
Behaviour
Bearded dragons show a variety of behaviour patterns to interact with fellows. Bearded dragons who want to signalize submission “wave” with one or two arms while the dominant dragon (often the male bearded dragon) bobs his head when he wants to say that he's the boss. Additionally the colour of the dragon's beard turns into black when he is aroused.
Especially male bearded dragons are very territorial. When two opponents meet they pump up their beards and flatten their bodies. If none of them signalizes submission, it results into a fight.
To scare off predators they additionally puff up their body and sometimes even open their jaws and hiss.
As bearded dragons are cold-blooded (poikilothermic) animals, they need external heat to regulate their temperature. Therefore you can often see them getting darker when they are basking. Often they additionally puff up in order to broaden their surface.
Nutrition
Bearded dragons are omnivore animals. They eat plant food as well as animal matter. Concerning their prey they are not very fussy. Usually they eat everything which fits into their mouth: insects, spiders, bugs, small frogs and lizards, baby mice etc. Bearded dragons usually wait and watch until the prey comes along instead of scanning the area for food. This saves energy and is less dangerous. But if they once have detected a prey they are very precise and fast hunters.
Reproduction
Bearded dragons usually become sexually mature by 8-12 months. Male dragons during the breeding season often show a black beard and nod with their head to impress their female mates. The female signalizes her submission by waving and lowering her body. Before copulation the male bearded dragon bites her on the back of the neck to secure her. Then he tries to make the female to lift up her tail so that he can get his hemipenes into her cloaca.
If he was successful the female becomes gravid. The gestation period usually lasts 4-6 weeks. The female usually starts do dig a few days before laying her eggs in order to decide where to place the eggs. She finally digs a hole into the earth and usually lays 20-30 eggs there. When she is ready she covers them so that the eggs are invisible for other animals. The babies will hatch after 60-80 days. The mother doesn't care for them at all.
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