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Australian Water Dragon

Physignathus lesueurii

Description:

Australian water dragons have long powerful limbs and claws for climbing, a long muscular laterally-compressed tail for swimming, and prominent nuchal and vertebral crests.[1] (A nuchal crest is a central row of spikes at the base of the head. These spikes continue down the spine, getting smaller as they reach the base of the tail.)[2] Including their tails, which comprise about two-thirds of their total length, adult females grow to about 60 cm (2 feet) long, and adult males can grow slightly longer than one metre (3 feet) and weigh about 1 kg. Males show bolder colouration and have larger heads than females.[3][4] Colour is less distinct in juveniles.[5]

Habitat:

As its name suggests, the Australian water dragon is associated with water and is semi-aquatic. It can be found near creeks, rivers, lakes and other water bodies that also have basking sites such as overhanging branches or rocks in open or filtered sun.

1 Species ID Suggestions

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 12 years ago
Australian water dragon
Physignathus lesueurii Australian water dragon


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4 Comments

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 12 years ago

Cool!

Aaron_G
Aaron_G 12 years ago

I'd say it's ok to leave this one. You have 2 separate animals that differ in looks. I don't think you need, say, 10 separate spottings of this species, but 2 that show size differences is fine. :-)

KMills
KMills 12 years ago

sorry that should have been... I have already posted a spotting....

KMills
KMills 12 years ago

thanks Goody. I already a 'spotting' of an Australian Water Dragon that I took at different location, different day..... should I delete this one?

KMills
Spotted by
KMills

QLD, Australia

Spotted on Feb 3, 2012
Submitted on Feb 26, 2012

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