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The Bearded Dragons of Australia
Submitted by CHS member Donald L. Blanchard
Originally published in the Cold Blooded News, Vol.24, No.3, March 1997.
The following is extracted from an email message I received from Greg Williamson in Brisbane, Australia. Greg had posted a newsgroup message to the Internet (rec.pets.herp), wherein he stated that Bearded Dragons were common in gardens in all the principal cities of Australia. Knowing that the principal cities of Australia were along the Eastern and Southern coasts, with climates similar to Southern California (Adelade) or the East Coast of the US from central Florida (Brisbane) to Washington, D.C. (Sydney and Melbourne), I inquired whether the same species was found in all those climates, and if it was the same species (Pogona vitticeps) that we commonly see in this country. He responded that the species he was referring to was P. barbata.
The remainder of his reply contained more information than I had any right to expect, and I thought it might be of interest to the rest of the Society as well. A (slightly) edited version of his reply follows:
-
- There are seven species of bearded dragons (genus Pogona) in Australia:
- P. barbata - the Common Bearded Dragon - found down the East coast, extends well into the interior as well.
- P. microlepidota - a slightly smaller lizard, found only in the Kimberley area of the far North West.
- P. minima - the Western Bearded Dragon - found on the sandy soils of the South West.
- P. minor - the Dwarf Bearded Dragon - also in the west, this one is found well into the centre of Australia as well. Probably the most arid-dwelling of the Pogonas.
- P. mitchelli - in the Northwest.
- P. nullarbor - found on the Nullarbor Plain in the south of Australia.
- P. vitticeps - the Inland Bearded Dragon - central Australia.
All are very similar similar in appearance and differ only in size and distribution. P. barbata is the largest. P. vitticeps comes a close second. All are semi-arboreal and found in a broad range of habitats, from coastal dunes and heaths to lush forests and rocky outcrops and stony desert country.
Australia has very little sandy desert country. Most of our dry country is low bushes and hard baked earth, or stony plains of laterite, limestone or sandstone.
Bearded dragons are very climate tolerant, provided they are in their natural habitat and have places to go to seek out microclimates that suit them. P. barbata are commonly seen in Brisbane, sunning themselves on people's lawns in the morning, especially in the winter. In some of the regions where P. vitticeps is found there is a hard and cold winter, with a daily temp range of -10°C (+14°F) to 20°C (68°F), and a hot dry summer, with temperatures around 20°C (68°F) to 45°C (113°F).
- Harold Coggers "Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia" (published by Reed in Australia) describes the habitat of P. vitticeps thus:
- "Distribution: Interior of all eastern continental states to the eastern half of SA (South Australia) and south-eastern NT (North Territory).
"Habit: Found in a very wide range of habitats, from the dry sclerophyll forests and eucalypt and Callitris woodlands in the southeast of its range, through mallee and arid Acacia scrubs to the gibber, sandplain, and sandridge deserts of the interior. Semi-arboreal, it is often seen perched on raised roadside verges, fallen timber, fence posts or trees from which it forages for the insects which make up the bulk of its diet. At other times it shelters under fallen timber, in the litter beneath shrubs, or in spinifex." (Spinifex is a form of drought-resistant bunch grass, unique to the interior of Australia. It has very tough, fibrous leaves. -dlb)
There are many books that illustrate the types of country where P. vitticeps live. I think the most important feature of a P. vitticeps enclosure would be dry branches for climbing, basking, and for hiding under.
regards
Greg Williamson
Brisbane, Australia
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