Extreme behavior such as hissing can be observed when threatened with a predator, inflating the body and tilting towards the threat in defense. The bearded dragon may also open its mouth and gape in addition to inflating its beard to appear more intimidating. The beard darkens, sometimes turning jet black, and inflates during the display. Females also display their beard as a sign of aggression. Both sexes have a beard, but males display more frequently, especially in courtship rituals. It forms part of a range of gestures and signals through which the dragons have basic levels of communication. The beard itself is used for mating and aggression displays, as well as heat management. The bearded dragon comes in many different colors. Aggressive males have even been known to attack females who do not display submissive gestures in return.Ĭorrespondingly, adult male bearded dragons can bite more forcefully than adult females and this difference is associated with greater head dimensions. Any male approaching without displaying submissive behavior will be seen as a challenge for A dominant male will adopt a dominant stance and sometimes ready himself for a fight to attack a male aggressor to defend territory, food sources, or in competition for a female. As they grow, they establish territories in which displays of aggression and appeasement form a normal part of their social interactions. Behavior Īdult bearded dragons are very territorial. They will also form more permanent burrows or covered hiding places to use as protection from the climate changes at night and predation. When the climate is too hot they will often burrow underground. Bearded dragons go through brumation when the temperature goes below 15.5–21 ☌ (60–70 ☏) during the night and 24–26.5 ☌ (75–80 ☏) during the day for eight to ten hours. When temperatures are extreme, there is a very small range between temperatures that the reptile's bodies can stay active and where their body cannot tolerate the extreme heat and they die. Reptiles go dormant in the hottest temperatures, but it differs from brumation during cooler temperatures. Brumation is like hibernation where reptiles go months without eating but they sporadically drink water. īearded dragons go through a type of hibernation called brumation. They can be found on fallen/broken trees, rocky outcrops and bushes when basking. This is also linked to dominance behavior and competition for territory/basking areas. They are considered to be semi-arboreal and will quite readily climb and bask at height. Their range extends throughout the interior of the eastern states to the eastern half of South Australia and southeastern Northern Territory. They live in the arid and subtropical woodlands, scrublands, savannas, shore areas, and into the great interior deserts. Males grow up to 60 cm (24 in) long, and females up to 51 cm (20 in).īearded dragons originate from deserts and other dry areas in Australia, with the various species occupying slightly overlapping areas of the landmass. Some have the ability to slightly change colour during rivalry challenges between males, in response to ambient temperature changes such as turning black to absorb heat, and other stimuli. Bearded dragons display a hand-waving gesture to show submission (most often when acknowledging another bearded dragon's territory), and a head-bobbing display to show dominance between dragons. When threatened, bearded dragons will puff up their bodies and beards to ward off predators and make their somewhat dull spikes seem somewhat more dangerous. Bearded dragons are characterized by their broad, triangular heads, flattened bodies, and rows and clusters of spiny scales covering their entire bodies. The genus Pogona is in the subfamily Amphibolurinae of the lizard family Agamidae.
Skeleton at the Museum of Osteology in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States They are found throughout much of Australia and inhabit environments such as deserts, and shrublands. Their diet consists primarily of insects, vegetation, and occasionally small rodents. Pogona species bask on rocks and exposed branches in the mornings and afternoons. They are a semi-arboreal species, spending significant amounts of time on branches, in bushes, and near human habitation.
The name "bearded dragon" refers to the underside of the throat (or "beard") of the lizard, which can turn black and gain weight for a number of reasons, most often as a result of stress, or if they feel threatened. Pogona is a genus of reptiles containing six lizard species which are often known by the common name bearded dragons. Genus of lizards commonly known as bearded dragons
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