Pogona
Stripe -Headed Bearded Dragon ( Pogona vitticeps )
The Bearded Dragon ( Pogona ) are a genus of Squamata of the family Agamidae. The genus is widespread, with currently eight recognized species in Australia.
Description
Bearded dragons are medium to large lizards. They achieve overall lengths of 30 to 60 cm, thereby accounting for the tail -half to two-thirds of the total length. The body is flattened dorsoventrally weak or strong, the legs are relatively short. The eardrum is exposed. The most striking feature are the many spines on trunk, legs, and tail, particularly a row of spikes along the edges, a row of spikes on the head base and another row of spikes at the trailing edge of the lower jaw, which extends to over stretching the throat in most species and as a " beard " forms. The animals are mainly gray - brown in color, with dark gray or black pattern.
Distribution and habitat
Bearded dragons come exclusively in Australia. Four of the eight species have relatively small distribution areas; three species ( P. barbata, P. minor and P. vitticeps ) colonize each large parts of Australia. Most species inhabit tree - and bush -lined habitats, only one species ( P. henrylawsoni ) exclusively inhabited semi-desert with grass cover. The eastern Australia widespread species P. barbata is often in populated areas.
Species
Currently, eight species are recognized:
- Eastern Bearded Dragon ( Pogona barbata ) ( eastern Australia )
- Dwarf Bearded Dragon (Pogona henrylawsoni ) ( Northeastern Central Australia )
- Kimberley Bearded Dragon ( Pogona microlepidota ) ( North-Western Australia )
- Small Bearded Dragon ( Pogona minima) ( Houtman Abrolhos - Archipelago, Western Australia )
- Mitchells bearded dragon ( Pogona mitchelli ) ( Western and Northern Australia)
- Western Bearded Dragon ( Pogona minor ) (West to Central Australia )
- Nullarbor Bearded Dragon ( Pogona nullarbor ) ( Nullarbor Plain in south-central Australia)
- Stripe -Headed Bearded Dragon ( Pogona vitticeps ) ( Central to South Australia)
Way of life
Almost all species are semiarboricol and like to rest on tree trunks, stumps or fence posts. Bearded dragons are omnivorous diet includes small vertebrates, invertebrates, leaves, flowers and fruits. When threatened, the animals flatten the body and stretch the throat with the beard by contraction of muscles, which attach to the cartilaginous structures of the throat (called the hyoid skeleton). At the same time they open their mouths and show the yellow or pink interior of the mouth.