Australian frilled lizard
The Australian frilled lizard, scientifically known as Chlamydosaurus kingii, is a distinctive reptile native to the Northern Territory of Australia and parts of Papua New Guinea. Famous for its unique ability to expand the folds of skin around its neck, this lizard can create a fearsome appearance, particularly during territorial displays or courtship rituals. With a length ranging from 1.5 to 3 feet and a weight of about one pound, these lizards exhibit multicolored, speckled skin that aids in camouflage within their natural habitats, which include scrublands and trees.
Frilled lizards are carnivorous, primarily feeding on insects, spiders, and small mammals, but they can also fall prey to larger predators such as snakes and birds. They possess a notable feature called a "third eye," which helps them detect environmental changes and regulate their behavior according to the time of day or breeding season. During mating, females lay two to eight eggs, which they leave to incubate for two to three months before hatching. In captivity, these lizards can live up to 10 years, though their lifespan in the wild remains uncertain. As the only species in the genus Chlamydosaurus, the Australian frilled lizard serves as an intriguing example of adaptation and survival in the wild.
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Australian frilled lizard
Australian frilled lizards are a species found in the Northern Territory of Australia. Their most notable feature is the way they push out folds of skin around their necks to make them look more ferocious. Australian frilled lizards are chisel-teeth lizards. That means their teeth are not just resting in sockets, but are strongly attached to their jaw bones. Australian frilled lizards are pictured on the two-cent coin in Australia.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Chlamydosaurus
Species: Kingii
Australian frilled lizards have multicolored, speckled, scaly skin. They are usually a mixture of brown, red, orange, yellow, black, and white. Their multicolored skin helps them to blend in with their surroundings. They have long, thick tails and thin, slender heads. Around their heads are folds of skin which can flare out to give them a fearsome appearance. The frills on males tend to be larger than on females. Males flare their frills in competition with other males to maintain control of territory. They also display their frills to show their brightness to females. Those with more visible frills are likely stronger and in better health.
Australian frilled lizards use many senses to help them understand their environment. They dart their tongues out of their mouths to taste the chemicals in the air. This helps them know what prey and predators are in the area. Each Australian frilled lizard has a spot on its head known as a "third eye." Australian frilled lizards also use their "third eyes" to help them learn their surroundings. These spots are directly connected to the lizards' brains and help them know the time of day, whether or not it is breeding season, and when to hibernate. Scientists are still researching the third eyes of lizards to learn more about their purpose. Australian frilled lizards grow to be between 1 1/2 and 3 feet (46 and 92 centimeters) long and they weigh about one pound (two kilograms).
Like other lizards, Australian frilled lizards slough, or shed their skin, many times throughout their lives. They are also able to lose their tails as a defense against predators.
Australian frilled lizards climb trees and wander the scrublands of north and northwestern Australia and Papua New Guinea. They often bask, or sunbathe, on branches during the warm hours of the day. When they run they move very, very quickly, skipping along on their hind legs.
As they make their way across the land, these chisel-teeth lizards are always on the lookout for tasty insects, spiders, and small mammals. Australian frilled lizards are carnivores, or meat-eating, animals. As they are hunting for their own food, they sometimes fall prey to other animals like snakes, birds, larger lizards, and large mammals. When these lizards are threatened or frightened they stretch out their throat fans and open their mouths to look larger and more ferocious.
Mating season for Australian frilled lizards takes place in the spring. After mating, the female later lays two to eight eggs. After she has laid her eggs she leaves them to develop and live on their own. It takes two to three months for Australian frilled lizards to hatch. The period between the laying and hatching of the egg is called the incubation period.
Australian frilled lizards have a life span of 8 to 10 years in captivity. Their life span in the wild is unknown.
Kingii is the only species in the genus Chlamydosaurus.
Bibliography
“Frilled Lizard.” A-Z Animals, 29 Mar. 2023, a-z-animals.com/animals/frilled-lizard. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024,
Pickrell, John. “The Science behind the Frill of the Frillneck Lizard.” Australian Geographic, 9 Aug. 2019, www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2019/08/the-science-behind-the-frill-of-the-frillneck-lizard. Accessed 24 Mar. 2024.
Savage, Melissa. “Chlamydosaurus kingii Frilled Lizard.” Animal Diversity Web, 2001, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Chlamydosaurus‗kingii. Accessed 22 Mar. 2024.