You may spot these beautiful sun-loving dragons, roaming the back roads of a bushland highway or a forested landscape, looking for insect pests to devour. Unlike other species of Bearded Dragons, this lizard relies on more bluff than bite, pretending to be bigger and spikier than it is to any potential predator. Here we will provide all facts and information about Central Bearded Dragon.
Identification of Central Bearded Dragon
A low wide body allows a dragon to hug surfaces while it is lying down. When it comes to its feet, it’s a fast runner, and can walk with a great stride. The scaly sides and back of the lizard are not meant to appear spiky; they’re supposed to look like a leathery-skinned, flat-bellied reptile. This type of spider’s legs are almost as long as its body and there is a large triangular head at the end of the abdomen that helps it to capture prey.
A variety of colors are also available for the Central Bearded Dragon. These include shades of red, brown, and yellow. These colors match the color of soil that’s typical of a dragon’s habitat. In general, males have larger heads than females. They also tend to be brighter in color than females.
Habitat
The habitat of the species includes temperate to tropical arid to semi-arid woodland, shrubland, and hummock grassland. They also include the Australian states of Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and northern Victoria regions.
Distribution
A Central Bearded Dragon occurs in a band across the semi-arid interior of Australia, including western New South Wales and the Riverina region, where it can be found wherever suitable habitat can be found.
Seasonality
In the spring (in November), males are seen much more commonly than females. In winter, one female was observed basking in the sun when the air temperature was 15°C. The active season is usually between the spring and fall, but if you’re lucky enough to live in a city that has year-round dragon activity.
Life Cycle
Egg-laying is typically in the spring and females will lay 11-30 eggs at a time. Females prefer to make nests, bury them, and then leave. Eggs will take 60-80 days to hatch, and it’s not clear when Central Bearded Dragons become sexually mature, but the size is usually used to determine if they are ready to be paired.
Feeding and diet of Central Bearded Dragon
These omnivorous lizards eat vegetation, as well as invertebrates and small vertebrates such as lizards. They are usually found of eating fruits and leaves. The captive diet for this species at the Australian Museum is provided in three meals within a week. This diet consists of a small portion of vegetables on one day, a small portion of kangaroo mince on another day, and a handful of crickets and cockroaches on the third day.
It changes the timing and order of the diet to simulate natural conditions and prevent stereotypical behavior. They’ll be waiting to be fed. This food is supplemented with calcium and vitamin powder to ensure a nutritionally balanced diet is provided. The dragon’s mouth opens rapidly. Its tongue then slaps forward to grab the prey item or piece of vegetation. The slippery tongue, which is covered in a thin layer of mucus, slides across the roof of the mouth, picking up food items and moving them into the mouth.
These are then eaten by carnivores (such as lions and tigers), herbivores (like cows, goats, sheep, and horses), or omnivores (which includes all species that eat both meat and plants) before being digested. A Central Bearded Dragon may drink standing water. However, they will also drink in a bowl or dish. The lizard held the position for 20 to 30 minutes.
Behaviors and adaptations
Central bearded dragons are mostly diurnal, but sometimes they are seen out on roads at night. They often go to the road after a hot day. This suggests that the species may be more active after dark than previously thought. The species is often seen at dusk and dawn.
Bearded dragons open their mouths when their body temperature rises to relatively high and potentially dangerous levels. When their mouth is open, the blood passing through their head is cooled.
Like other Bearded Dragons, this species is a strong climber. They can be found on tree stumps, tree branches, boulders, and fence posts. From the high point, a lizard may bask to enjoy the sunshine and keep watch for potential predators, prey, rivals, or mates.
If startled the lizard faces its attacker with its mouth open and it usually stands on its hind legs and swipes the air with its long claws. The dragon breathes slowly, expanding its body, making its sides appear rigid and overall it seems bigger to the attacker. Some lizards can undergo a rapid color change. An example of a species that can change its color in this way is the Eastern-painted lizard. Mature males often develop black beards. It’s a genetic change that makes them look more mature and distinguished.
Communication
When it comes to being vocal, Bearded Dragons don’t sound like it. Their only hiss is when threatened, and they make a hissing noise, which isn’t very high-pitched or loud. Posture is communicated by head bobbing, arm waving, eye contact, and listening. An important hierarchy can be observed among these usually solitary lizards when they often congregate together at prime basking sites and times of abundant food.
The dominant male will look down and puff up his shoulders and neck as a sign of dominance. Submission is indicated when the forearm is waved, which generally defuses the confrontations. However, if one does not back down the animals will then circle each other and a stand-off or fight may occur.
A bow is a sign of submission or dominance depending on the situation and the animal. For example, adult females show submission to a male with a slow, low bowing. Mature males use fast, bobbing bows to signal submission to other males. While the male uses his strong tail to bob, the female performs a similar motion on her back with her tail and her legs. Arm waving is used by both sexes. Males use waving to show submission to a dominant male, and females will arm wave to show responsiveness to a male. Combining a head tilt, the movement is slowed down.
Breeding behaviors of Central Bearded Dragon
Males engage in fighting with their long, spiky beards. When males are engaged in territorial sparring, they use different types of aggressive behavior to establish male dominance. During mating season, the male grips the female by the neck and holds onto her by a fold of skin on the neck while copulating.
The eggs are laid in a burrow dug by the female who then backs it up with earth so the nest isn’t visible. A small excavation in the side of the nest revealed an egg that had a slight deviation from the center, and it was slightly rounded. Eggs vary from 24 to 29 mm in length and 17 to 18 mm in length. Incubation took between 78 to 85 days at about 26°C. The size of hatchlings ranges from 39 to 42mm with a mean of 38mm.
Are Central Bearded Dragons dangrous to humans?
If you find an adult Central Bearded Dragon eating your garden, try to scare them off. A bite from an adult Central Bearded Dragon can cause pain. There are a lot of things you can do to avoid being bitten by this lizard, but it’s best to stay calm and don’t get upset if it does bite. A new study has indicated that bearded dragons possess primitive venom glands, but the use of venom in the lizard is not yet understood. There are many benefits to owning a pet Bearded Dragon; including the fact that they are not venomous lizards, there are also benefits to those who have reptiles in their home. They are great pets for children and reptile lovers alike. Make sure the bite is cleaned with a disinfectant before treating it. This will help prevent infection.
Facts about Central Bearded Dragon
The average adult bearded dragon can live for 15 years. A male will live twice as long as a female. They are very social animals. They will defend territories and mate, even with other males if necessary. The bearded dragons will make their home in caves, burrows, or even human dwellings. The young dragons are born during the Spring or Summer months. The adults will mate throughout the year, but the eggs hatch mostly between April and June. Central bearded dragons are found in many parts of Australia. There are many kinds of reptiles that can help you understand the central bearded dragon facts.
In addition to its beard, the bearded dragon’s head and body are covered in spines that help protect it from predators. The spines are often mistaken for venomous, but they are not. The venom glands are located near the tail, not the head, and if the bearded dragon is threatened by a predator, it will usually flee.
You can also learn about types of bearded dragons here.
