1 www.guntherschmida.com.au The concept, text, lay-out and all images contained in this publication are by Gunther Schmida and protected by copyright. This preview shows only the first eight pages in actual size, all other pages are much reduced, each image shown in this preview representing a full screen page in the finished volume. This also contains the common and scientific names, author and year of description, places of origin ( or ancestry, if captive bred), and actual size of the dragons in the images. (This is important, as juveniles often look different from adults.) The Australian Dragon Catalogue Change pages by using the up or down keys on the keyboard. Tablet users just need to scroll pages. Edition 6-15 Frilled Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii - Darwin - NT
Gunther Schmida The Australian Dragon Catalogue 2 Eastern Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata (Cuvier 1829)
Concept, lay-out, text and photography Gunther Schmida 3 Chameleon Dragon Chelosania brunnea Gray 1845
Photographic assistants: Terry Adams, Dr. Gavin Bedford, Matthew Bonnett, Dr. Danny Brown, Angus Emmott, Martin Fingland, Ralph Foster, Cliff Guest, Grant Husband, Robert Porter, Robert Pulvirenti, Paul Singline, Gary Stephenson, Jason Sulda, Steve Swanson and Steve Wilson. 4 Eyrean Earless Dragon Tympanocryptis tetraporophora 15 cm - Winton - C-Qld.
Australian Dragons Over 900 different species of reptiles have been recorded in Australia, and more than 80 of these are lizards of the old world family Agamidae, known in Australia as dragons, with more new species still being discovered. The Australian species are grouped into 15 genera. (Cogger, 2014) The family occurs in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and much of the western pacific region, but not in Americas and Madagascar where the similar looking iguana lizards occur. Two species of these are also known from Fiji. All Australian dragons are sun loving lizards. Some are tiny, barely reaching a total length of 10 cm, whilst the largest reach sizes of 80 cm or more. Some of the larger dragons have become iconic creatures well known around the world. The best known of these are doubtlessly the bearded dragons, with one species now being the most popular lizard maintained in captivity around the world, due to its people friendly behaviour and ease of breeding. Also well known are the two largest dragons, the frill-neck lizard and the eastern water dragon - the latter being of more robust build, and the small but very unusual looking moloch, or thorny devil, with its robot-like gait. All dragons have comparatively large triangular or bulbous heads, attached to the robust bodies with distinct necks. The tails are mostly long - even prehensile in some species. Tails are not readily discarded as in some other lizards and are only partially regenerated by some if accidentally lost. The skin of dragons is covered with rough, sometimes spiky scales and may have adornments like large tubercles, beards, frills, crests and dewlaps. The bizarre looking moloch is covered with large, but relatively soft thorns all over. The limbs are well developed, the hind legs usually longer and with longer toes than the ones in front. All possess sharp claws. Eastern Water Dragon Intellagama l. lesueuri Dominant male - 60 cm - Gold Coast - SE-Qld. 5
6 Red-barred Dragon Ctenophorus vadnappa - 24 cm - Chamber s Gorge - Flinders Ranges - South Australia Many dragons are swift moving lizards, darting in short burst around their habitats, with some being able to run even faster on their hind legs only, should the need arise, with the frill-necked lizard probably being the best known species with this ability. However, a few move in slow deliberate ways, or relay on their camouflage colour patterns to blend into the surroundings, and instead of fleeing, stay motionless when they sense danger. The majority of Australian dragons occur in hot arid habitats and many are active in extremely hot conditions. In the south of the continent they become inactive during the cool months of the year. Several distinct groups can be recognized. There are dragons living in rocky areas and others that live on sandy terrain. The males of many of these are vividly coloured lizards, especially during the spring to early summer breeding season. A few have taken to a life amongst grass tussocks and other low vegetation, others have adapted to a life in trees, with some of the latter occurring in rainforests. There are also dragons occurring in all manner of habitats. Only one, a south-eastern Australian species also lives in Tasmania. The water dragons, as their name implies, are usually found near water, retreat to it in case of danger, and are even known to sleep underwater, rising periodically to breathe.
7 Moloch or Thorny Devil Moloch horridus - 20 cm - Soudan Station - Barkly Tableland - NT Dragons feed largely on insects and other invertebrates, the larger ones also taking small vertebrates like frogs and lizards. Some also eat plant matter. Their broad fleshy and somewhat sticky tongue is useful to pick up and manipulate food items. Thorny devils only eat certain types of ants. Some of the larger species, like water and bearded dragons, as well as some of the smaller ones, are arguably the most commonly seen of all Australian lizards due to their habit of sitting upright in elevated positions such as rocks, boulders, termite mounds, tree trunks, or even fence posts. With territorial species these are usually males keeping an eye over their domain. Water dragons in particular are often seen as they have successfully adapted to urban life in much of their range. Many dragons live in family groups consisting of a dominant and several sub-ordinate males, a number of females and their offspring occupying a territory. Depending on species, they communicate with arm waving, head bobbing, spreading of beards or frills, erecting colourful skin crest along the back, and even coiling tails, whilst simultaneously rocking their hindquarters up and down. The sexes of most dragons are easily told apart, with males generally being larger and more colourful than females. The colours get even brighter during the breeding season. All dragons lay leathery-shelled eggs, and often more than once during a season. Their number depending largely on the size of the species. The eggs are deposited in burrows dug into the soil of their habitats, and depending on species and temperatures, take between 45 and 120 days to hatch. Life spans have been recorded from a few to almost 30 years. Dragons are hunted by many avian predators, snakes, carnivorous lizards and introduced pests, especially feral cats, foxes and dogs. In the past, they were also an important food source for Australia s first people.
Burns Dragon Ampbibolurus burnsi (Wells & Wellington, 1985) 8 Male - 35 cm - Glenmorgan - SE-Qld - A tree dragon usually occurring along water courses.
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Specimens courtesy of: Terry Adams Dr. Gavin Bedford Steven Castell Martin Fingland Dr. Danny Brown Angus Emmott Ralph Foster 158 Cliff Guest Robert Porter Gary Stephenson Northern Territory Wildlife Park - Darwin
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