Inland/Central Bearded Dragon

ANIMAL:
Inland/Central Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps

Type of Animal:
Agamid

Habitat:
Subtropical/tropical/temperate arid/semi-arid woodland, desert, savanna, scrubland, shrubland, arid rocky semi-desert, shore areas, dry forest, eucalyptus woodland, hummock grassland (w/ scattered trees)

Location(s):
Australia-SE N Territory, E South Australia, W Queensland, W New South Wales, far NW Victoria

Appearance:
Come in different colors-tan, gray, reddish-brown, brown, red, yellow, white, & orange, named for pouch-like projection on underside of neck/chin area, males have darker beards than females, flattened body, scaly throughout, large round eyes, spikes on sides, often yellowish around eyes & side of head

Food/Diet:
Insects, worms, insect larvae, grubs, spiders, slugs, greens, vegetables, fruit, legumes, berries, small mammals, eggs, small reptiles, plant material, grasses, leaves, weeds, flowers, snails, grains
 
Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Export from Australia banned in 1960s. Widely bred for pet trade & herpetoculture.

Lifestyle:
Solitary or small groups of a dominant male, 2-8 female, & ocassionally, 1-3 subordinate males.
 
Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Hatchling
Group: Colony
 
Weight:
Male: 1.1 lbs
Female: 0.6 lbs
 
Gestation:
2.5-4 months 

Life Span:
8-10 years in wild, 12-15 years in captivity

Body Length:
Male: 1.75-2 ft
Female: 1.5 ft
Young: 9 in

Tail Length:
Male: 10.5-12 in
Female: 9 in
Young: 4.5 in

Main predators are larger lizards, snakes, predatory birds, dingoes, cats, foxes, pigs, & crocodiles. Adult beardies sometimes prey on juveniles.
 
Dominant males highly territorial, sometimes fighting to the death.
 
They love to bask in the sun.
 
When stressed, scales become tense & spiky & throat/beard puffs out. When relaxed, scales flatter/smoother.
 
Male beards darken when ready to breed. Beards on both sexes darken when stressed/threatened.
 
Females lay 15-25 eggs per clutch.
 
Puff up & make themselves look bigger to deter predators.

Fun Fact(s):
They can sleep standing up.
 
One of most popular pet lizards due to ease of care, docility, & tamablity.
 
These animals often head-bob-fast head-bobs indicate aggression/desire to fight (very common when males encounter each other or when males defend territory), slow head-bobs indicate submission (whether it’s same-sex or female to male. Males tend to be dominant), quick & jerky head-bobs indicate male’s ready to breed & receptive females will arm-wave.
 
While they can’t regrow lost tails/limbs, they can regrow teeth.
 
Can run at speeds of up to 9 mph if alarmed, often on 2 legs.

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