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Frill-necked lizard Facts

Frill-necked lizard Facts
Frill-necked lizard is a reptile that belongs to the dragon family. It can be found in the warm, tropical parts of north Australia and south New Guinea. Frill-necked lizard inhabits temperate forests and savanna woodlands. Some people keep frill-necked lizards as house pets. Number of frill-necked lizards in the wild is dropping due to habitat destruction and as a result of increased number of feral cats which hunt and eat frill-necked lizards. Luckily, number of frill-necked lizards is still high. They are not on the list of endangered animals.
Interesting Frill-necked lizard Facts:
Frill-necked lizard can reach 3 feet in length (including the tail) and 0.5 pounds of weight. Males are larger than females.
Color of the body depends on the habitat. These lizards are able to change the color of the body to blend with environment. Majority of frill-necked lizards are brown to reddish colored.
Frill-necked lizard have colorful flap (frill) of skin around neck. It consists of series of pleats and it is usually folded. Lizard exposes neck frill when it is endangered, during the courtship or to eliminate excess heat. Unfolded flap has 12 inches in diameter.
Stability of the erected frill is provided by cartilaginous spines that are connected with bones in the jaw.
Frill-necked lizard is diurnal animal (active during the day). It basks in the sun in the morning and early afternoon.
Frill-necked lizard hunts as an ambush predator (using the element of surprise). Its diet consists of ants, cicadas, spiders, small lizards, termites and small mammals.
Frill-necked lizard belongs to the group of arboreal animals. It spends most of its time on the trees.
When it is faced with danger, frill-necked lizard elevates forelegs (to appear bigger), unfolds frill, opens yellow mouth and starts to hiss. In case this doesn't intimidate the predator, lizards runs away to the nearest tree where it seeks protection.
Frill-necked lizard can run upright, using only hind legs (bipedal locomotion).
Main predators of frill-necked lizards are large lizards, birds of prey, dingoes and cats.
Frill-necked lizard is solitary creature, except during the mating season which takes place from September to October.
Female lays 8 to 23 miniature eggs in the underground nest. Incubation period lasts 2 to 3 months. Temperature determines gender of the babies. Temperature above 35 degrees of Celsius leads to development of females. Equal number of males and females develop when eggs are incubated on a temperature below 35 degrees of Celsius.
Baby lizards are able to use their frill and to fend for themselves from the moment of birth. Frill-necked lizards reach sexual maturity at the age of 18 months.
Frill-necked lizard was imprinted on the Australian coin of 2 cents that was used as currency until 1991.
Frill-necked lizard can survive up to 20 years in the captivity.


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