Frilled Lizard
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts
| Common name | Frilled lizard |
| Scientific name | Chlamydosaurus kingii |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Squamata |
| Family | Agamidae |
| Genus | Chlamydosaurus |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Type | Reptile; large, tree-dwelling lizard |
| Diet | Insects, spiders, small reptiles and rats |
| Habitat | Humid tropical forests and jungles |
| Native range | Australia and Papua New Guinea |
| Size | About 0.9 m (3 ft) long |
| Weight | Up to about 0.5 kg |
| Special feature | Neck frill fans out to scare enemies |
We can call the frilled lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii any number of names including frill-necked lizard and frilled dragon. The frilled lizard is a large species of lizard that are arboreal in nature. It spends most of its lifetime up on the treetops.
Anatomy
The rather large folded skin, up against the frill necked lizard’s head and neck gives it the name Frilled Lizard. When it senses a threat, this folded skin fans out making the animal seem bigger and more threatening than it actually is. Frilled-neck lizard is basically a rather large species. These lizards differ in color and size from region to region. On an average, the larger adults grow to about 3 feet or 0.9 meters in length from head to tail and weigh up to 1.1 pounds or 0.5 Kilos.
Behavior
The frilled lizard is mainly carnivorous. In the wild it preys on a variety of insects, spiders and other small animals, including small reptiles.
Habitat
Frill-necked lizards are native to the jungles of Australia and surrounding islands. You can find this fairly large species in humid climates like tropical jungles and forests, across the Australian continent and in Papua New Guinea. Frilled Lizard is certainly a strong icon in Australian culture and appears on their currency. It is also the mascot of many Australian teams and organizations.
As a Pet
Breeding
The frill-necked lizard species mate by the commencement of the rainy season. The males are always slightly bigger than the females. Female lizards lay as much as 25 eggs in burrows before covering them up . The lizard eggs hatch within months.
Housing
Frilled lizards are arboreal creatures. They spend the major portion of their life time in trees. When you want to create an enclosure for these lizards, you must consider height as a factor of vital importance. You can make use of artificial stones, vines , branches, cascades, misters as well as artificial and real plants for decoration. When you make use of real plants, you must consider edible plants and those that can potentially harm your pet.
Like most lizards the frilled dragon loves to bask. Exposure to UVB radiation is essential for it to synthesize vitamin D3 and for the proper metabolism of calcium. Commercially available fluorescent, compact fluorescent, and mercury vapor bulbs can provide this. Mercury vapor lamps have the added advantage of providing heat along with UVB. These lights also give out UVA radiation that many experts consider can help your pet see its prey better and also regulate its emotional health.
Food
Frilled Dragons are basically carnivorous. They eat a wide range of insects, spiders, and small vertebrates in the wild. Crickets, wax worms, mealworms and even frozen mice in captivity. To ensure maximum nutrition. You should arrange to provide insects along with a small amount of dark leafy greens.
Dust the insects that you feed with a calcium supplement many times a week as well as a multivitamin supplement once or twice a week.
You would do well to provide an open pan of water large enough for your lizard to soak as well as defecate. Misting the cage many times a day also creates ‘dew’ for your lizard to consume greedily.
Handling
Scoop up your dragon lizard from behind. Hold it gently but with a firm grip in your hands. Do not try to catch it by the tail or limbs.
Frilled lizard FAQs
Why is it called a frilled lizard?
It has a large fold of skin around its head and neck. When it senses danger, the frill fans out so the lizard looks bigger and scarier.
Where do frilled lizards live?
They live in the tropical forests and jungles of Australia and Papua New Guinea. They spend most of their lives high up in trees.
What do frilled lizards eat?
They eat insects, spiders, small reptiles and sometimes rats. In captivity they get crickets, mealworms and the odd frozen mouse.
How big are frilled lizards?
Large adults are about 3 feet (0.9 m) long from head to tail and weigh up to about half a kilogram. Males are a little bigger than females.
How many eggs does a frilled lizard lay?
A female can lay as many as 25 eggs, which she buries in a burrow. The eggs hatch after a few months.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
