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Bearded
dragons are agamid lizards belonging to the genus Pogona (formerly Amphibolurus). The most
common species in the pet industry is the Inland Bearded Dragon, Pogona vitticeps, which was formerly called Amphibolurus
vitticeps. The Inland Bearded Dragon is sometimes referred to as the Central, or Yellow-headed Bearded Dragon. Other
members of the Pogona genus include:
- P. Vitticeps – Inland Bearded
- P. Barbata – Common Bearded
- P. Henrylawsoni – Rankin's
- P. Minima – Western
- P. Minor – Drawf
- P. Mitchelli – Northwest
Bearded
- P. Nullarbor – Nullarbor
- P. Microlepitoda
Bearded dragons live in
the arid, rocky, semi-desert regions and arid open woodlands. Beardeds live on hard packed soil, not loose sand like most believe. They
are adept climbers, spending time on branches and in bushes, even found on fence posts when living near human habitation.
They also bask on rocks and exposed branches in the mornings and afternoons.
These
diurnal lizards are omnivores, voracious eaters of invertebrates and small vertebrates alike. They also forage for soft plant
matter, including greens, fruits, and flowers. Like most desert dwellers, beardeds spend the hottest part of the day in underground
burrows and are well adapted to the cool desert nights.
The bearded's blunt arrow-shaped head
is typical of the agamids. The scales along the skin of the throat and the side of the head have specialized into spiny points.
The scales along the sides of their bodies also carry these pointy extensions. When threatened, the dragons flatten out their
bodies, making themselves look wider. The "beard" in the dragon's name comes from its flared-out throat, done to scare off
conspecifics and potential predators. This threatening vision is enhanced by a gaping mouth. Such behavior is rarely seen
in captivity, however, as these lizards adapt so well to their human caretakers. The most one usually sees is a flattening
of the body and a small flare to the black "beard."
Dragons are social animals, which is one
of the reasons they are engaging and interested in their surroundings in captivity. They frequently become very secure in
their environment and soon stop displaying their beard. Beardeds use their tongue to check out their environment.
Bearded Dragons reach reproductive age
at one to two years of age. During breeding season, the beards of mature males turn black. Males can also be differentiated
from females by the presence of pre-anal and femoral pores (which are almost impossible to see on very young dragons, making
them difficult to sex).
Older females may lay up to sixteen eggs
in the early summer, in shallow "nests" dug in the sandy soil. Juveniles, which may weigh as little as 2.1 grams at hatching,
are often banded and may have an orange stripe near their eyes; as they mature, the pattern becomes less distinct.
Since their introduction into the USA pet trade in the early 80s, the Inland Bearded Dragon
(Pogona vitticeps) has grown in popularity and is now estimated
to outnumber the green iguana. It is the most popular reptile species kept as a pet in the United
States, and it is estimated that over 500,000 captive bred babies are produced each year in the USA.
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