Frilled Dragon

Frilled Dragon

1. The frilled lizard is found in northern Australia, southern New Guinea.When open, the frill can be 9.5-14 inches wide Adults can grow to be over 8 inches long .When at rest, the frill folds down on its shoulders.

2. They spend most of their lives in trees.They inhabit moist tropical and warm temperature forests. Enjoy woodlands with shrubby under story.Favorite food is snakes. Also eats bugs, cicadas, ants, snakes, and lizards.  They jump out of the tree and lands on it’s prey. They bite it’s prey and the prey dies. They are not poisonous.

3. Frilled lizards may be an endangered species because the land where they live is being cleared. 

4. Main predators are birds of prey such as Wedge-tailed Eagles and owls, larger lizards, snakes and dingoes.

5. When it is frightened, the frilled lizard opens its mouth wide which causes it to ruffle out its red and orange, scaly frill. The frill looks like an open umbrella. The lizard hisses loudly too and may thrash its tail on the ground. When frightened they begin to run on all fours and then accelerate onto the hind legs. In Australia, the frill-necked lizard is also known as the "bicycle lizard" because of this behavior Frilled lizards are not poisonous or harmful to people. 

6. Frilled lizards, or "frillnecks," are members of the dragon family that live in the tropical and warm temperate forests and savanna woodlands of northern Australia. They spend most of their lives in the trees, but descend occasionally to feed on ants and small lizards. Other menu items include spiders, cicadas, termites, and small mammals.

7. They vary in color and size from region to region. On average, the larger adults reach about 3 feet (0.9 meters) from head to tail and weigh up to 1.1 pounds (0.5 kilograms).

8. Their main predators are birds of prey, larger lizards, snakes, dingoes and feral cats. They are currently not threatened or protected, but habitat reduction and predation in some areas, particularly by feral cats, is affecting their populations.

9. Females lay 8 to 23 tiny eggs in an underground nest, and hatchlings emerge fully independent and capable of hunting and utilizing their frill. Their lifespan in the wild is unknown, but specimens in captivity have lived 20 years.

10. Their scaly skin is grey-brown in color and the tail is striped with a dark tip.

11. The tongue and mouth are pink or yellow. 

12. The distinctive “frill” located behind the head is yellow to black in color with orange at the base when the frill is opened up. The frill can be up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) across. 

13. Frilled lizards are solitary except during breeding. 

14. Males are territorial and appear to use their impressive frill to attract females. 

15. Mating occurs during the wet season from October to March. The female lays eight to 23 eggs per clutch and may produce two clutches during one breeding season. The eggs hatch in about 70 days. The hatchlings are tiny and weigh only one tenth to two-tenths of an ounce (3-5 g). There is no parental care for the hatchlings they immediately must fend for themselves. Lifespan in the wild is unknown.

16. The frilled lizard is part of the dragon family. The Australians call the frilled lizard the “dragon lizard.” 

17. The frilled lizard is the reptile emblem of Australia and was depicted on the two-cent coin. 

18. The frill cannot be erected unless the jaws are opened wide. The two actions are synchronous. 

19. Frilled lizards in captivity seldom display their frill.