Free Essay The Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona Vitticeps)

Geridon · Uploaded by **Geridon** on Aug 5, 2006

The Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona Vitticeps)

The bearded dragon (also called the yellow-headed bearded dragon) native to inland or central Australia is a very versatile lizard. In Australia these little guys can be found living in the arid, rocky, semi-desert regions, arid woodlands or scrub. They are frequently found basking in the morning and afternoon sun or rocks, logs and even fence posts. Their bulky body and basking allows them to store heat and operate at lower temperatures than other lizards. Bearded dragons can also survive very high temperatures for several hours since they can regulate there body temperature by evaporation. They are generally very brave individuals and are not generally bothered by humans, which is one of the reasons they have become popular pets.

There basic color varies from shades of brown and reddish-brown, gray and bright orange. The adult males have a dark beard, which becomes black during courtship and breading. They average18� to 24� from nose to tail and there average weight is between 10 � 18 ounces. The bearded dragons head is somewhat arrow shaped as opposed to the slightly rounded head of the horned toad native to the American Southwest. It�s body is somewhat flat and is liberally covered with sharp �appearing� spikes. The bearded dragon�s tail only makes up about half of its length. Females are generally stockier though somewhat shorter than the males of the species. The scales along the throat and side of the head have evolved into spiny points they also have these pointy scales along the sides of their bodies. They received the name �bearded� from their flared out throat that it uses to help scare off potential predators. While they flare out there throat they open their gaping mouth, which is lined with yellowish-orange coloring to help add to there threatening appearance and can stand on there hind legs. The bearded dragons adapt so well to living in captivity this behavior is rarely observed. The most one is likely to see is it flattens its body and possibly flare its �beard�.

The bearded dragons have the ability to change shades from dark to light, which aids them in regulating their body temperatures. They can also change colors depending on emotional state and for concealment. When injured, sick or dying the bearded dragon becomes black on its back and their legs become pale yellow.

Juvenile bearded dragons sometimes express subservience toward larger bearded dragons by standing on three legs and waving their other leg in slow circles and then doing the same with the other leg. Males generally discontinue waving when they mature however the females frequently do not. They will also display aggressiveness towards each other by head bobs. They may engage in a challenge with another dragon in a circular combat with mouths open, bodies flattened, hissing at each other and trying to bite each other�s tail though no damage is generally done.

Bearded dragons are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of small animals, insects, and plants. Their diet includes small animal that they can overpower along with moths, flies and grasshoppers. Bearded dragons also really like dandelion flowers and clovers.

The bearded dragons reach sexual maturity between one and two years at which time they can breed. They generally lay between 15 - 25 eggs dug into shallow nests in sandy soil. Their young reach adult size in about a year. They have a life span of approximately 4 � 10 years.