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Frilled (Neck) Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii |
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Frilled (Neck) Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii |
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The Frilled (neck) lizard is probably Australia's most famous or well recognised reptile. It is a dragon and is active in the day. The Frilled lizard is extremely variable in its colourings between different places. It occupies sub-humid to sub-arid grassy woodlands and dry sclerophyll forests from Kimberley, NT and northern eastern Queensland as far south as Brisbane. Don't believe all the tourist pamphlets that tell you that you may see a Frilled lizard in the southern areas of Western Australia. The body is up to 80cm long. The frill is 30cm wide and is displayed when annoyed or threatened combined with hissing and even chasing the offender. When the frill is not being displayed it folds into four folds on each side. This photograph was taken at Perth Zoo. The heat lamps give the photographs the green and red colourings. |
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Photographed at the Armadale Reptile Centre in Perth |
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What do they eat? Feeds on invertebrates and some small invertebrates such as termites. This termite mound was photographed in the Northern Territory. |
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Most of the time is spent on trunks of trees or branches. It can run on powerful hind legs with body up straight and it uses its long tail as a counter balance. Or if threatened they may hide under a low bush. There can be approx 23 eggs per clutch. These are juveniles photographed at Perth Zoo |
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