Frilled lizard: Difference between revisions
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==Diet== |
==Diet== |
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Like many lizards, the frill-necked lizard is insectivorous. They are known to feed on cicadas, beetles, ants, and termites.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/3041.shtml| title=Frilled lizard, frillneck lizard, King’s lizard| accessdate=2009-11-17}}</ref> They especially seem to favor butterflies and moths, their larvae even more so.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://reptilis.net/lacertilia/agamidae/Chlamydosaurus.php |title=Frill-Necked Lizard |
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|accessdate=2009-11-19 }}</ref> Though insects are their primary sources of food, they are also known to eat spiders, other lizards, and small mammals.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/frilled_lizard.html |title=The Australian Frilled Lizard |accessdate=2009-11-17 |last=Bradtke |first=Birgit }}</ref> |
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==Thermoregulation== |
==Thermoregulation== |
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Revision as of 00:07, 20 November 2009
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| Genus: | Chlamydosaurus
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| Chlamydosaurus kingii Gray, 1827
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The Frill-necked Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), also known as the Frilled Lizard or Frilled Dragon, 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. When the lizard is frightened, it gapes its mouth showing a bright pink or yellow lining, and the frill flares out, displaying bright orange and red scales. The frill may also assist the lizard in regulating its internal body temperature.[citation needed]
Description
Adult frill-necked lizards may grow up to one metre in total length. Males are significantly larger than females both as juveniles and when mature.They typically walk on four legs; however, when frightened they can accelerate onto just their hind-legs. The frill of the Australian frilled dragon is used to scare off potential predators — as well as hissing and lunging. If this fails to ward off the threat, the lizard flees bipedally to a nearby tree where it climbs to the top and relies on camouflage to keep it hidden.
Habitat
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Chlamydosaurus kingii is found mainly in the northern regions of Australia and southern New Guinea. Within aforementioned regions, the lizard will be found in humid climates such as those in the savanna woodlands[1]. The Frill-necked Lizard is an arboreal lizard, meaning it spends a majority of its time in the trees[2]. 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 lizards diet which consists mainly of small arthropods and vertebrates (usually smaller lizards). However, the trees are most importantly used for camouflage. One of the most intriguing facts noted by scientists who study this lizard is that there is no one standard color, it all depends on 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 grays. This shows that the lizards use their habitats for protection in the form of camouflage.
Diet
Like many lizards, the frill-necked lizard is insectivorous. They are known to feed on cicadas, beetles, ants, and termites.[3] They especially seem to favor butterflies and moths, their larvae even more so.[4] Though insects are their primary sources of food, they are also known to eat spiders, other lizards, and small mammals.[5]
Thermoregulation
Being a reptile, the frill-necked lizard is ectothermic and 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. Weather conditions, including sunlight, are the main factors working on the lizards’ temperature[6].
Reproduction and Sexual Dimorphism
Frill-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 8-23 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. Sex is partly temperature determined, with extreme temperatures producing exclusively females, and intermediate temperatures (29-35C) 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. This coin was withdrawn from circulation in 1992, after which the 2- and 1-cent coins were melted down to make bronze medals for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. The same frill-necked lizard, "Lizzie" was the mascot for the 2000 Paralympic Games.
The emblem of the Australian Army's Regional Force Surveillance Unit, Norforce (North West Mobile Force) is the frill-necked lizard. The lizard was selected as the unit's emblem because of its speed, aggression, and ability to blend in with its surroundings.[citation needed]
Because of their unique appearance and behavior, the frill-necked lizard is commonly depicted in children's cartoons. A frill-necked lizard named Frank appears in the Disney film The Rescuers Down Under and one named Osgood appears in the anime Noozles. In Adventures of the Little Koala, the character "Macky Macky" is a frill-necked lizard whose neck frill raises up when he gets excited. It is also the fauna symbol used for the Australian wildlife television program, Totally Wild.
In the film Jurassic Park, the dinosaur Dilophosaurus was portrayed with a fictional neck frill, which was raised during attack, similar to that of a frill-necked lizard.
References
- ^ Savage, Melissa (2001). "Chlamydosaurus kingii". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ Savage, Melissa (2001). "Chlamydosaurus kingii". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ "Frilled lizard, frillneck lizard, King's lizard". Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ "Frill-Necked Lizard". Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ Bradtke, Birgit. "The Australian Frilled Lizard". Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ Shine, Richard; Lambeck, Robert. "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards, Chlamyd o saurus kingii (Agamidae), in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-11-18.
- Bedford, G. S. 1995. Anti-predator tactics from the Frilled Neck Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii. Journal of the Victorian Herpetelogical Society 6(3): 120-130.
- Harlow, P. S. and R. Shine. 1998. Temperature dependent sex-determination in the frillneck lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii (Agamidae). Herpetologica 55(2): 205-212.
- Shine, R. and R. Lambeck. 1989. Ecology of frillneck lizards, Chlamydosaurus kingii (Agamidae) in tropical Australia. Australian Wildlife Research 16: 491-500.
- From The Centre: Kakadu. Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2002.
External links
