Facts About Frilled Lizard

Due to its unusual looks and behavior, frilled lizard is one of the most popular lizard species in Australia. Also known as frill-necked lizard, frilled-neck lizard and frilled dragon, it is largely arboreal in nature, since it spends majority of its time on the trees. It is brownish to reddish in color and has a wide brown, white and orange frill of skin around its neck. Frilled lizard is so named because of the large ruff of skin that lays folded back against its head and neck. This lizard expands its frill when it feels threatened and to keep predators at bay. The lizard is mainly found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Frilled lizards can survive on anything that moves. Since it is so unique, this distinctive lizard is world famous too. Read through the following lines to know more interesting facts and amazing information on the frilled lizard.

Fast Facts

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Sauropsida

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Iguania

Family: Agamidae

Subfamily: Agaminae

Genus: Chlamydosaurus

Group Name: Amphisbaenas

Length: 70-95 cm

Weight: 500 g

Lifespan: Up to 20 years

Diet: Insects and small invertebrates.

Habitat: Tropical and warm temperate forests and savannah woodlands.

Age of Sexual Maturity: 18 months

Gestation Period: 2-3 months

Number of Offspring: 8-23 eggs

Interesting & Amazing Information On Frill-necked Lizards

A frilled lizard can run standing up on its hind legs as well, with its forelegs and tail in the air.
The lizard relies on the sun to warm its blood, which enables it to feed and move quickly.
To reduce the loss of water, the body of a frilled lizard is covered in scales.
Frill-necked lizard is found in different patterns, depending upon its location. The one residing in Queensland is yellow with black and white markings, while that found in Northern Territory will be orange with red, black and white speckles.
To protect itself, the lizard can change its color, in the form of a camouflage that depends upon its habitat.
It hunts for spiders and insects like cicadas in the trees and looks for ants, termites, small mammals and small lizards on the ground.
Wedge-tailed eagles, owls, larger lizards, snakes and some mammals like dingoes and quolls are the main predators of the frilled lizard.
When threatened by a predator, the lizard rises on its hind legs, opens its yellow-colored mouth, and ruffles out the mane that encircles its head and hisses.
The ruff of a frill-necked lizard, which is normally folded neatly at the neck, opens up into a series of pleats when threatened. The same happens during courtship as well.
The ruff or frill of the lizard can measure up to 30 cm in diameter, when it is opened up.
The hatchlings of a frilled lizard hatch about 8 to 12 weeks after laying and are fully independent and capable of hunting and utilizing their frill.
It is the reptile emblem of Australia and also features on the 2-cent coin in the country.
A male frill-necked lizard is usually brighter and even larger than its female counterpart.
Frill-necked lizards are often kept as pets.
These can blend in easily with trees due to its color. For this reason, these spend their entire lives on trees, hunting for food and finding shelter.
Frilled lizards are ambush predators, which means that these hide and attack when their prey least expect it.
These lizards use their frill to cool themselves on hot days.
Frilled lizards do not have a particular color as its color depends on the environment.
Deforestation and predation affect their population; however, these species are not endangered.
These solitary creatures are most active during the day.

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