Military dragons

There are 10 taxa in this group.

They are extremely swift and run on all 4 legs.

Some in these species are short lived, living no longer than a year.

This dragon has a very long tail. C.m.maculatus are approx 60mm in length from snout to vent. This dragon is found in Shark Bay.

C.m.badius are slightly smaller at 55mm from snout to vent. These dragons are a bit further north to Ningaloo near Exmouth.

Photographed at Peron Peninsula metres from the beach.

These dragons don't perch on high places as you can see there are few trees. Some occupy sandy heathlands or hummock grasslands, others like this one occupied coastal dunes and others occupy mallee tree areas.

These lizards are diurnal.

Big Lagoon Peron Peninsula

At the top of this dune was a large hole with many sets of tracks leading in and out. We came back several times and in the night but could not catch a glimpse of who was coming and going.

What do they eat?

Diet is mostly of ants and other small arthropods.

I saw many Military dragons on the Great Northern Hwy heading south after Port Hedland in late August.

Go Here to see our video of two dragons fighting. When I slowed the film down at home you could see the dragons barring their teeth at each other and biting.

Where I saw these Military dragons there was grasses and low scrubby bushes.

These two photographs were taken at the Alice Springs Desert Park in Alice Springs.

In this photo above you can see the tracks left by this fast lizard.

Photographed on the Tanami Track in the Tanami Desert in August

clutches of approx 1-6 eggs are laid between September and February. More than one clutch may be laid by each female.

Hatchlings emerge between January and May

Update;

This is possibly a Ctenophorus maculatus grieus seen at Watheroo National Park in September

This is Watheroo National Park where this dragon was seen.

Text
"Australian Reptiles A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia" by Stephen K Wilson, David G Knowles.
"Lizards of Western Australia 2 Dragons and Monitors" by G.M.Storr, L.A.Smith, R.E.Johnstone
CD ROM"Australian Reptiles Volume 11, Skinks, Geckos and Dragons" by Stephen Wilson and David Knowles