About
A dragon evokes images from legends and fairy tales of giant, fire-breathing lizards with wings, guarding a princess or a treasure. In reality, there are about 350 species in Family Agamidae, many of whom are called “dragons” or “dragon lizards.” They are found in Australia, Asia, and Africa. Some include flying lizards, water dragons, and frilled lizards. Many have dinosaur-like spines, flaps, and crests.
About 70 species of dragon lizards are found in Australia, including the Boyd’s forest dragon, a tree-dwelling lizard that spends its day hidden on the side of a tree six to seven feet up from the ground. While it cannot fly, the Boyd’s can appear invisible. Its main defense depends on agility, camouflage, and bluff. When threatened, the dragon “freezes” to avoid detection from predators like birds of prey, monitor lizards, and snakes. If detected, it slides around to the back of the tree, keeping the trunk between itself and the predator.
Dragon-like sharp spines are a deterrent against predators, and the dewlap below the chin can be erected to scare off predators or attract mates. Males use their bright coloration to display to females and other males.
Boyd’s forest dragons are sit-and-wait predators that lunge quickly and suddenly to snap up prey with their thick, fleshy tongues. They rely on acute eyesight for finding prey. All have sharp, chisel-shaped teeth fixed to their jaw, an adaptation to their insectivorous diet. Unlike with alligators, lost teeth are not replaced.
A long tail (nearly twice the length of its body) and long hind limbs help with balance and climbing. Long toes and claws enable it to climb trees rapidly. If threatened, a Boyd’s may secure itself in a crevice with its tail facing outward. Lizards in this family lack fracture planes in their tails, so they rarely break. When breaks do occur, the tails do not regrow.
Since sunlight is usually not available in their rainforest habitat, Boyd’s forest dragons generally do not bask in the sun for warmth. Instead, their body temperature simply conforms to the air around them. Since their body temperature is always the same as their surroundings, they are thermally inconspicuous to heat-sensing pythons.
This Australian tree-dwelling lizard has sharp spines to deter against predators–but its main defense is camouflage.
Habitat
Boyd’s forest dragons are confined to tropical rainforests and moist forests on the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia.
Diet
Insectivorous, they primarily feed on beetles, crickets, and lots of ants, earthworms, and other invertebrates, as well as small vertebrates and fruits on occasion.
Physical characteristics
Body length is about six inches. Their tails add another 12 inches. They weigh about four to five ounces, with males slightly larger and more colorful. Lifespan is estimated to be up to ten years.
Location Within the Zoo
You’ll find this animal in the LAIR.
