Archives of The Cold Blooded News

The Newsletter of the Colorado Herpetological Society

Volume 30, Number 11;   November, 2003

Herp of the Month

Common Name:

Frilled Lizard (Frilled Dragon, or Frilly)

Scientific Name:

Chlamydosaurus kingii

Range:

Northern Australia, Southern New Guinea

Size:

28cm SVL, 95cm TL. males: 22-24 in TL.; females: 18-24 in TL

Active Period:

diurnal

Life Expectancy:

5-7 years or >10 years (depending on source)

Habitat:

open bush land, open forests, grassland

Captive Care:

These tree dwelling lizards need a tall cage to allow for climbing. Enclosure for a breeding pair should be around 130 x 100 x 220 cm with many large branches for climbing and perching. Substrate: course sand (-5cm). Artificial plants are recommended as the animals will destroy live plants. Water: Spray the cage early morning before the lights come on. A water bowl should also be kept in the cage as the animals may learn to drink from standing water. Lighting: Full spectrum with spot lights for heat.

Temperature:

up to 38°C during the day, with a drop to around room temperature at night.

Foods:

In wild: butterfly caterpillars, green ants, termites & beetles, birds eggs, small mammals
In captivity: insectivorous: hatchlings and adults will eat appropriately sized crickets, mealworms, waxworms dusted with a calcium, vitamin supplement (I use 4 parts Repcal : 1 part Herptivite); adults will also eat Zoophobas (superworms), pieces of meat (or pinky mice), but generally not plant material -- will rarely eat fruit.
Frillies are "sit and wait" predators.

Enemies:

birds of prey, monitor lizards, giant snakes, man

Breeding:

In wild: Breeding season is from December to April, can lay 2 clutches (10-23 eggs)/season, eggs buried 10-15 cm deep, nest temp. 28.8-33°C incubation 69 days.
In captivity: Adults should be hibernated (after allowing time to clear digestive track, turn off heat and lights for 6 to 10 weeks, then slowly return to normal). After mating, females gravid for 4 to 6 weeks, lay eggs in moist vermiculite (or sand:soil mix). Incubation at 28°C takes three months (- 70% hatch); incubation at 31°C takes 78 days (100% hatch)

Notes of Interest:

the frilled lizard gets its name from the "ruff" that it erects around its head when threatened or startled. This is an extension of the hyoid bone. The hyoid skeleton is made of the bones and cartilage of the tongue, connected by muscles to the edges of the lower jaw and the breastbone in the rear. When startled, the frilled lizard will open its mouth, flex tongue muscles attached to the hyoid and raise its frill. The frill is also displayed during mating.
An additional interesting behavior is the bipedal locomotion found in adults as they chase prey on the ground.

References:

Hauschild, Andree and Bosch, Hubert (2000) Bearded Dragons and Frilled Lizards. Matthias Schmidt Publications, Munster, Germany. 95pp.
Weiss, Peter (2003) "Thrills, chills and Frills" Reptiles 11 {4):48-63.

Compiled by:

Eileen Underwood