Frilled or Frillneck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii)
The frill-neck lizard, also known as the frilled lizard or frilled dragon, is found mainly in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It is largely arboreal, spending the majority of the time in the trees.
The frill-necked lizard is so called because of the large ruff of skin which usually lies folded back against its head and neck. The neck frill is supported by long spines of cartilage which are connected to the jaw bones. When the lizard is frightened, it gapes its mouth, exposing a bright pink or yellow lining; the frill flares out as well, displaying bright orange and red scales.
A frill-neck lizard was featured on the reverse of the Australian 2-cent coin until 1991. A frill-necked lizard, known as "Lizzie," was the mascot for the 2000 Paralympic Games.
The frill-necked lizard is found mainly in the northern regions of Australia and southern New Guinea. The lizard inhabits humid climates such as those in the tropical savannah woodlands.
The frill-neck lizard maintains its homeostatic body temperature by basking for up to 40 minutes. This achieves an average of 2–3 degrees Celsius above the surrounding temperature. This basking period usually occurs in the morning to early afternoon. During the basking period the lizard will be found near the bottom of a tree and out from under the forest canopy, ensuring maximum exposure to sunlight.
The frilled lizard does not survive well in captivity. It seldom displays its well-known frill under captive conditions and is therefore a poor exhibit for zoological gardens. The lizard is best observed in its natural surrounding, however numerous zoos and wildlife parks around Australia do hold examples in captivity.
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Geographic Range
The frilled lizard is found across northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It lives in the sub-humid to semi-arid grassy woodlands and dry sclerophyll forests. The lizard is arboreal and spends most of its time on trunks and limbs of standing trees. Due to its excellent camouflage, it is usually observed only when it descends to the ground after a rainfall or to search for food
Description
The Frillneck is one of Australia's most distinctive and familiar dragon lizards. It is a large lizard, averaging 85 cm (33 inches) in length. C. kingii is moderately robust with long limbs and a moderately long tail. The general colouring of this lizard is grey-brown. The tail is obscurely striped with a dark grey tip. The tongue and mouth lining are pink or yellow. But its most distinguishable feature is the large Elizabethan-like ruff or frill that it raises abruptly around its neck when it becomes alarmed. The neck frill is simply a thin but extensive fold of skin surrounding the throat, which when fully erected may measure almost 12 inches across. The frill lies like a cape over its shoulders until erected.
Behaviour
The Frillneck is a diurnal lizard that spends most of its time resting on tree trunks and low branches. They undergo seasonal changes with respect to diet, growth, habitat use, and activity. The dry season is characterized by a decrease in activity and Frillneck Lizards prefer large trees with canopy perches. The wet season is characterized by an increase in activity, and the selection of shorter trees with small diameters.
The species is well known for its bipedal locomotion when running. When disturbed, this bipedal lizard usually dashes to the nearest tree, but as an alternative, it may hide beneath low vegetation or go into a "freeze" mode. This predator response of resting absolutely motionless has been adopted as part of its "bluffing" plan. If the lizard is cornered, it usually turns to face its aggressor and enacts the defence mechanism for which frilled lizards are most famous. The lizard erects the frill by opening its brightly coloured pink or yellow mouth. This sudden apparent increase in size and bright mouth col or is sometimes accompanied by hissing, standing up on its hind legs, and leaping at or chasing the predator. If the "bluffing" doesn't work, the lizard usually runs up the nearest tree.
Food Habits
Frilled lizards are arboreal, spending 90% of their time in trees. Usually, they only descend to the ground to feed. They are insectivores and most commonly eat small invertebrates, but have been known to eat small mammals and pieces of meat
Conservation Status
Dugongs are listed as an endangered species. The dugong has been hunted for thousands of years for its meat and oil, although dugong hunting also has great cultural significance throughout its range. The dugong's current distribution is reduced and disjunct, and many populations are close to extinction.
Despite being legally protected in many countries throughout their range, the main causes of population decline remain anthropogenic and include hunting, habitat degradation, and fishing-related fatalities. With its long lifespan of 70 years or more, and slow rate of reproduction, the dugong is especially vulnerable to these types of exploitation. Dugongs are also threatened by storms, parasites, and their natural predators, sharks, killer whales, and crocodiles.
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