Frilled Dragon
(Chlamydosaurus kingii)
The Frilled Dragon may also be referred to as Frilled Lizard or Frill-necked Lizard. These creatures are found mainly in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. These dragons inhabit humid climates such as those in the tropical savannah woodlands. The Frilled Dragon is an arboreal lizard, meaning it spends a majority of its time in the trees. The lizard ventures to the floor only in search of food, or to engage in territorial conflicts.
The Frilled Dragon is so called because of the large ruff of skin which usually lies folded back against its head and neck. The neck frill is supported by long spines of cartilage which are connected to the jaw bones. When the lizard is frightened, it produces a startling dramatic display. It gapes its mouth, exposing a bright pink or yellow lining, spreading out its frill, displaying bright orange and red scales. It raises its body and sometimes holds its tail above its body. This reaction is used for territorial displays or to discourage predators.
There is not one standard color for these animals. Rather, coloration varies according to the their environment. For example, a lizard found in a dryer, clay filled environment will most likely have a collage of oranges, reds, and browns. Whereas a lizard found in a damper, more tropical region will tend to show darker browns and greys.
Like many lizards, Frilled Dragons are insectivorous, feeding on cicadas, beetles, and termites. They especially favor butterflies and moths, their larvae even more so. Though insects are their primary source of food, they also consume spiders, other lizards, and small mammals. Frilled Dragons employ an ambush method of hunting. They lie and wait for their prey. When the lizards eat, they eat in abundance. These binge periods usually occur during the wet season, when the lizards will ingest hundreds to thousands of ants or termites.
Information courtesy of wikipedia.org
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