Eastern Bearded Dragon (during ecdysis)

Description:

Bearded Dragon is the common name for any agamid lizard in the genus Pogona. They have broad triangular heads and flattened bodies, with adults reaching approximately 50 cm (19.5 inches) head-to-tail. Males are slightly longer than females, but females are slightly heavier. They owe their name to a distinctive series of lateral spines (specialized scales) radiating horizontally from the head and base of the tail. They also shed their skin because they grow continuously throughout their lives. However, their skin does not grow with them so to accommodate this increase of size, every reptile must shed its scaly skin periodically. This process is known as 'ecdysis'. When the time to shed draws near, a layer of water will form underneath the outer layer of the scales. This layer works to loosen the old skin and separates it slightly from the new layer underneath. The harsh, spiky appearance of these lizards belie their normally placid temperament. If approached in the wild, the Bearded Dragon's usual response is to freeze and rely on its camouflage. If further threatened they puff themselves up, extend the 'beard' under the throat and open the mouth wide to reveal the bright yellow lining. If picked up, they will continue to struggle but will rarely bite. Adult Bearded Dragons eat a great deal of vegetable matter, possibly as much as 80-90% of their total diet. Leaves, fruits, berries and flowers are all eagerly consumed, and I've even witnessed them eating clover. Insects make up the balance of the adult diet and the majority of the juvenile diet. In spring, male dragons keep a close eye out for passing females, attracting their attention with a series of frantic head bobs and arm waving. A month or so after mating, the female lays a clutch of 10-20 oval shaped white eggs with soft, flexible shells. These are laid in a shallow hole dug into the soil in an open sunny spot. The eggs hatch after around two months of incubation. In good seasons two or three clutches may be produced by a single female.

Habitat:

Distributed the length of the eastern quarter of Australia, Eastern Bearded Dragons are common in open forests, heathland, scrub and even some disturbed areas such as farmland. They are common in suburban areas as well. Their main requirement are trees or shrubs that they can utilize for escape, sun-baking or to simply survey their territory. If trees are in short supply, they will use fence posts as an alternative, jumping to the ground to catch a passing insect or to chase off an intruding Bearded Dragon.

Notes:

Early one morning I met this lovely fellow on a friend's lawn, which happens to be in a rural area. At first I thought it was a large piece of bark… until it raised its head and looked up at me. Prior to this I had never seen a Bearded Dragon up so close, so I managed to grab my camera and take a few quick shots. The closer I got the more his throat puffed up and the pointed spines around his neck extended dramatically… and the more my heart pounded!!! After a while he became bored with my intrusions and made a hasty retreat. They following morning we met again. In the last 3 photos in this series, the lizard has shed much of his skin since we first. The new scales look very fresh and clean, indicating he’s a very healthy animal.