Australian water dragon
Australian Water ( Physignathus lesueurii howittii )
The Australian Water ( Physignathus lesueurii ) is a native to Australia Agamenart. It is both tree - and water alive.
Features
The Australian Water reaches a head-body length of up to 24.5 cm. The hind legs to reach 95 %, the tail 2.5 times the head-body length. The scales are mostly quite small and uniform, but are occasionally interrupted by transverse rows of larger scales. Neck and back carry prominent ridges spiny scales, the tail has the upper hand, a shed Kiel. The body and tail are pressed together laterally for better drive in the meandering swimming movements.
Based on the coloring 2 subspecies are distinguished:
- P. l lesueurii ( Australian Eastern Water Dragon) is olivaceous to brown, with a dark streak from the eye to the nape, dark transverse bands on the back and a reddish coloration on the chest.
- P. l howittii ( Gippsland Water Dragon ) differs from p. l lesueurii in particular by the absence of dark stripe between eye and neck, and less pronounced dark drawing on the top. In addition, the body bottom is colored olive. Adult males on with red, orange and sometimes blue spots this subspecies white a dark throats.
Distribution and habitat
The species inhabits the eastern Australia and is always found in the vicinity of watercourses. The spread of P. l howittii begins in Gippsland in Victoria and extends north to Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales. After the spread of P. l lesueurii ranging in Queensland north to Cooktown begins. Often penetrate Australian water dragons in urban areas before, such as in Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.
Way of life
It is a diurnal, partially water living and otherwise arboreal lizard. Often you can see they rest on branches overhanging the water. In case of faults they drop into the water even from great heights. Water dragons eat insects, various aquatic animals such as frogs, and rare small terrestrial vertebrates. Fruits and berries are consumed in small degree. In some coastal regions they penetrate to the littoral foraging.