Frill Necked Lizard

 "Frill Necked Lizard"

Scientific classification:-

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chrodata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Iguania

Family: Agamidae

Genus: Chlamydosaurus Gray, 1827

Species: C. kingii

Binomial name:- Chlamydosaurus kingii

Predators:- eagles, owls, larger lizards, snakes, dingos and quolls.

The frill-necked lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), also known commonly as the frilled lizard, frilled dragon or frilled agama, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to northern Australia and southern New Guinea. This species is the only member of the genus Chlamydosaurus.Its common names come from the large frill around its neck, which usually stays folded against the lizard’s body. C. kingii is largely arboreal, spending the majority of its time in the trees. Its diet consists mainly of insects and small vertebrates. Frill-necked lizards, or ‘frillies’ as some call them, will occasionally eat plants as well, although this behaviour is uncommon. It’s a relatively large lizard, averaging 85 cm (2.79 ft) in total length (including tail) and is kept as an exotic pet.

Taxonomy:-

British zoologist John Edward Gray described the frill-necked lizard in 1825 as Clamydosaurus Kingii, from a specimen collected by an expedition conducted by Captain Phillip Parker King from HMS Mermaid. King’s specimen was obtained by his ship’s botanist, Allan Cunningham, at Careening Bay off the northwest coast of Australia.

The generic name, Chlamydosaurus, is derived from the Ancient Greek chlamydo (χλαμύς), meaning “cloaked” or “mantled”, and saurus (sauros), meaning “lizard”. The specific name, kingii, is a Latinised form of Phillip Parker King’s last name. It is the only member of this genus.

In the Jawoyn language of the Katherine area, it is known as leliyn.

Description:-

The frill-necked lizard is a relatively large member of the agamid family, growing up to 85 cm (2.79 ft). It is capable of bipedal locomotion and has been described as regularly moving in this manner with a purposeful stride at times by naturalists.

Colouration tends to be brown or grey with spots and blotches of darker colours mixed in a mottled fashion to give the appearance of tree bark. There is not one standard colour: rather, colouration varies according to the lizard’s environment. For example, a lizard found in a dryer, clay filled environment will most likely have a collage of oranges, reds, and browns; whereas a lizard found in a damper, more tropical region will tend to show darker browns and greys. This suggests they are adapted to their habitats; their colours are a form of camouflage. The most distinct feature of these lizards is 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 produces a startling deimatic display: it gapes its mouth, exposing a bright pink or yellow lining; it spreads out its frill, displaying bright orange and red scales; raises its body; and sometimes holds its tail above its body. This reaction is used for territorial displays, to discourage predators, and during courtship. The red and orange parts of its frill contain carotenoid pigments. The bones of the frill are modified elongate hyoid types that form rods which expand the frill. Secondarily the frill can serve as a form of camouflage when relaxed; there is no standard colouration to the body, but it is usually darker than the frill.

Distribution and habitat:-

The frilled-neck lizard is found mainly in the northern regions of Australia and southern New Guinea. The lizard on rare occasions is found in the lower desert regions of Australia but primarily inhabits humid climates such as those in the tropical savannah woodlands.It tends to be an arboreal lizard, meaning it spends a majority of its time in the trees. The lizard ventures to the floor only in search of food, or to engage in territorial conflicts.The arboreal habitat may be a product of the lizard’s diet, which consists mainly of small arthropods and vertebrates (usually smaller lizards).However, the trees are most importantly used for camouflage.

Diet:-

Like many lizards, frill-necked lizards are carnivores, feeding on cicadas, beetles, termites, and mice. They especially favour butterflies, moths and their larvae. Though insects are their primary source of food, they also consume spiders and occasionally other lizards. Like most members of the agamids (dragons), frill-necked lizards employ an ambush method of hunting, lying in wait for their prey. When the lizards eat, they eat in abundance; these binge periods usually occur during the wet season, when they ingest hundreds to thousands of alate (flying) ants or termites.

Reproduction and sexual dimorphism:-

The frilled-neck lizard is sexually dimorphic; meaning that there are physical differences between male and females. This dimorphism is apparent in the length of the lizard; the male is generally larger than the female. There is little to no dimorphism in the colour of the lizard.

Frilled-necked lizards breed in the early wet season from September to October.Adult males fight for mates, displaying their frills and biting each other. One to two clutches of 6–25 eggs are laid from early to mid-wet season from November to February. The eggs are laid in a nest 5–20 cm below ground, and usually in sunny areas. Incubation takes two to three months. Gender is partly temperature determined, with extreme temperatures producing exclusively females, and intermediate temperatures (29 to 35 °C) producing equal numbers of males and females. Their eggs are soft-shelled.

In culture:-

A frill-necked lizard was featured on the reverse of the Australian 2-cent coin until 1991.A frill-necked lizard named “Lizzie” was the mascot for the 2000 Summer Paralympic Games. The lizard features on the emblem of the Northern Australian regiment NORFORCE.

Because of its unique appearance and behavior, the creature has often been used in film and television. A frill-necked lizard named “Frank” appeared in the 1990 Disney animated film The Rescuers Down Under. In the 1993 film Jurassic Park, the dinosaur Dilophosaurus was portrayed with a neck frill that raised when attacking, and generated an increase in demand for frill-necked lizards as pets.

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