Bearded Dragon: Pogona vitticeps
In the Wild
Description:
 Size:
o 18-22 inches (46-56 cm) from snout to tip of tail
 Males are generally larger than females but despite being smaller in
overall size females are typically stockier
 Weight:
o 10-18 ounces (283-510 grams)
 Description:
o Medium sized for their family and stocky
o Prominent spines along sides
o Large triangular shaped head
 Males have broader heads
o Jaw pouch around the snout which resembles a beard when swollen
 Coloration:
o Range in color from dull brown or tan to bright red or orange
Habitat and Range:
 Native to Central Australia
 Preferred habitat is semi-arid to arid woodlands
o Spend large amounts of time perched on bushes, logs, rocks, fences, and other
structures
Diet:
 Omnivorous
o Preference for insects but will eat a variety of plant matter including fruits,
leaves and flowers
o Will also eat any small vertebrates they can overpower
Adaptations:
 When they feel threatened they can “inflate” their beards causing the spiky scales to
stand on end and the color can darken to jet black so they appear more threatening
 It has a very bulky body and will spend long periods of time basking in the sun which
allows them to store heat and operate at lower temperatures than other lizards in
addition to being able to survive at higher temperatures for several hours since it can
regulate its temperature through evaporation
 They can change shades (from light to dark and back) in order to regulate body
temperature
 Like all reptiles they are cold blooded which means that they depend on external
sources to maintain their body temperatures... they eat 30 to 50 times less food than do
birds and mammals of similar sizes because they do not burn energy to heat internal
“furnaces”
11/11/2010
Bearded Dragon: Pogona vitticeps
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Display a behavior akin to arm waving as they stand on three legs and wave one of their
limbs in a slow circular pattern which is hypothesized to aid in species recognition and
also as a show of submission
They are opportunistic omnivores whose stomachs are large enough to accommodate
large quantities of plant matter, insects, spiders, and the occasional small rodent or
lizard allowing them to live in areas where food is hard to find
Lifespan:
 Average lifespan of 4-10 years
o Can live for as long as 15 years in captivity in zoos or as pets
Ecosystem relationships:

Adult bearded dragons are territorial and establish social hierarchies with aggressive displays a
normal part of social interaction
Reproduction:
 Reach sexual maturity at 1-2 years of age
 Mating occurs in warm summer months
o Australia’s September-March
o Captive individuals do not appear to display seasonal breeding habits and will
mate year round
 During mating males mount females and bite the side of their neck
 Females will dig a burrow in which they lay their eggs
o Up to 24 eggs per clutch
o Up to 9 clutches laid per year
o Eggs are 0.7-1 inch in length and have parchment-like shells
 Females are known to be able to store sperm and so they are able to lay multiple
clutches of fertile eggs from one mating
 Incubation is 70 days and hatchlings are 3-4 inches long
o Young grow rapidly and often gain adult size within a year
Activity:
 Diurnal
o Spend most of their time basking in the sun during mornings and afternoons
Other “fun facts”:
 Bearded dragons are native only to Australia and since the 1960s Australia has
prohibited exports of any native wildlife
o “founder stock” of captive bred bearded dragons found outside of Australia are
thought to have been smuggled out of the country between 1974-1990
 Bearded dragons have been used widely in scientific research and are very popular in
the pet trade
Conservation Status and Threats:
11/11/2010
Bearded Dragon: Pogona vitticeps


IUCN Least concern
May be experiencing habitat loss and degradation due to land clearing and cattle grazing
o This is not considered much of a threat due to the species apparently flexible
habitat requirements
At the Zoo
Tobe
 Donated by the reptile department in 2005
 Age: unknown
 Sex: Male
What We Can Do

Do your research before buying a pet
o Make sure you are not purchasing a wild-caught individual
o Captive-bred species are often easy to find
References:
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11/11/2010
http://www.zoo.org/animal-facts/beardeddragon
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/site/animals/reptiles/bearded-dragon
http://lazoo.org/animals/reptiles/inlandbeardeddragon/index.html
http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/170419/0
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pogona_vi
tticeps.html
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Inla
ndbeardeddragon.cfm