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==Diet==
==Diet==
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, frill-neck lizard, King’s lizard| accessdate=2009-11-17}}</ref> They especially seem to favour butterflies and moths, their larvae even more so<ref> {{cite web|url=http://reptilis.net/lacertilia/agamidae/Chlamydosaurus.php |title=Frill-Necked Lizard
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, frill-neck lizard, King’s lizard| accessdate=2009-11-17}}</ref> They especially seem to favour butterflies and moths, their larvae even more so<ref> {{cite web|url=http://reptilis.net/lacertilia/agamidae/Chlamydosaurus.php |title=Frill-Necked Lizard
|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>. Like most members of the agamids (dragons) the frill-necked employs an ambush method of hunting: they lay in wait for their prey.<ref> {{cite journal|title=Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia|journal=Australian Wildlife|date=1989|first=Richard |last=Shine|coauthors=Robert Lambeck|volume=16|issue=|pages=491-500|id= |url=http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au/Shinelab/publications/reprintsNeedsToBeChecked/83ecologyfrillneck.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-11-20 }}</ref> Also, when the lizard does eat he eats in abundance; these binge periods will usually occur during the wet season and the lizard will ingest hundreds to thousands of alates (ants or termites) <ref> {{cite journal|title=Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia|journal=Australian Wildlife|date=1989|first=Richard |last=Shine|coauthors=Robert Lambeck|volume=16|issue=|pages=491-500|id= |url=http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au/Shinelab/publications/reprintsNeedsToBeChecked/83ecologyfrillneck.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-11-20 }}</ref>. the lizard rarely will venture to the forest floor in order to obtain food. <ref> {{cite journal|title=Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia|journal=Australian Wildlife|date=1989|first=Richard |last=Shine|coauthors=Robert Lambeck|volume=16|issue=|pages=491-500|id= |url=http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au/Shinelab/publications/reprintsNeedsToBeChecked/83ecologyfrillneck.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-11-20 }}</ref> They rarely need to drink, as they can get any required moisture from what they eat<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.freewebs.com/reptilesandarachnids/frillednecklizards.htm |title=Frilled Neck Lizards |accessdate=2009-11-19 |last=Shuttleworth |first=Brett }}</ref>.
|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>. Like most members of the agamids (dragons) the frill-necked lizard employs an ambush method of hunting: they lay in wait for their prey.<ref> {{cite journal|title=Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia|journal=Australian Wildlife|date=1989|first=Richard |last=Shine|coauthors=Robert Lambeck|volume=16|issue=|pages=491-500|id= |url=http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au/Shinelab/publications/reprintsNeedsToBeChecked/83ecologyfrillneck.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-11-20 }}</ref> Also, when the lizard does eat he eats in abundance; these binge periods will usually occur during the wet season and the lizard will ingest hundreds to thousands of alates (ants or termites) <ref> {{cite journal|title=Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia|journal=Australian Wildlife|date=1989|first=Richard |last=Shine|coauthors=Robert Lambeck|volume=16|issue=|pages=491-500|id= |url=http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au/Shinelab/publications/reprintsNeedsToBeChecked/83ecologyfrillneck.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-11-20 }}</ref>. the lizard rarely will venture to the forest floor in order to obtain food. <ref> {{cite journal|title=Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia|journal=Australian Wildlife|date=1989|first=Richard |last=Shine|coauthors=Robert Lambeck|volume=16|issue=|pages=491-500|id= |url=http://www.bio.usyd.edu.au/Shinelab/publications/reprintsNeedsToBeChecked/83ecologyfrillneck.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-11-20 }}</ref> They rarely need to drink, as they can get any required moisture from what they eat<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.freewebs.com/reptilesandarachnids/frillednecklizards.htm |title=Frilled Neck Lizards |accessdate=2009-11-19 |last=Shuttleworth |first=Brett }}</ref>.


==Thermoregulation==
==Thermoregulation==

Revision as of 01:48, 21 November 2009


Frill-necked lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Sauropsida
Order:
Squamata
Suborder:
Iguania
Family:
Agamidae
Subfamily:
Agaminae
Genus:
Chlamydosaurus
Binomial name
Chlamydosaurus kingii
Gray, 1827

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 which are connected to the jaw bones. 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. This seemingly beautiful display is usually used to discourage predators or in courtship. The lizard is a member of the agamid family which means it a relatively large lizard (up to 90 cm).[1] The lizard is also capable of bipedal locomotion.
The frill-necked lizard does not have a standard colour, however it is characterised by a body that is darker then its frill. There is only one recorded species of the frill-necked lizard however, the immense variations of colour among the species has lead some scientist to hypothesise more then one species.

Habitat

Frill-necked Lizard in natural environment, showing camouflage.

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 tropical savannah woodlands[2]. The Frill-necked Lizard is an arboreal lizard, meaning it spends a majority of its time in the trees[3]. 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 colour, 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 greys. 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.[4] They especially seem to favour butterflies and moths, their larvae even more so[5]. Though insects are their primary sources of food, they are also known to eat spiders, other lizards, and small mammals[6]. Like most members of the agamids (dragons) the frill-necked lizard employs an ambush method of hunting: they lay in wait for their prey.[7] Also, when the lizard does eat he eats in abundance; these binge periods will usually occur during the wet season and the lizard will ingest hundreds to thousands of alates (ants or termites) [8]. the lizard rarely will venture to the forest floor in order to obtain food. [9] They rarely need to drink, as they can get any required moisture from what they eat[10].

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[11]. This basking period usually occurs in the morning to early afternoon [12]. During the basking period the lizard will be found near the bottom of a tree and out from under the forest canopy[13]. This is because the session is occurring during early hours and the lizard's position insures maximum exposure to sunlight. However, the lizard's final internal temperature depends mainly on the ambience of the surrounding environment [14].

Reproduction and Sexual Dimorphism

Chlamydosaurus kingii from Narrative of a Survey Volume 2, by Phillip Parker King, 1827.

The frill-necked lizard is sexually dimorphic, as with most lizards. This means that the male and female frill-neck differ phenotipically. In the case of the this lizard this dimorphism is apparent in the length of the lizard: male lizards are generally larger than female lizards[15]. There is little to no dimorphism in the color of the lizard. 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 seen on a small tree branch

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 behaviour, 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

  1. ^ Heying, Heather (2003). "Family Agamidae". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  2. ^ Savage, Melissa (2001). "Chlamydosaurus kingii". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  3. ^ Savage, Melissa (2001). "Chlamydosaurus kingii". University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  4. ^ "Frilled lizard, frill-neck lizard, King's lizard". Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  5. ^ "Frill-Necked Lizard". Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  6. ^ Bradtke, Birgit. "The Australian Frilled Lizard". Retrieved 2009-11-17.
  7. ^ Shine, Richard (1989). "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Australian Wildlife. 16: 491–500. Retrieved 2009-11-20. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Shine, Richard (1989). "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Australian Wildlife. 16: 491–500. Retrieved 2009-11-20. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Shine, Richard (1989). "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Australian Wildlife. 16: 491–500. Retrieved 2009-11-20. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Shuttleworth, Brett. "Frilled Neck Lizards". Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  11. ^ Shine, Richard; Lambeck, Robert. "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards, Chlamyd o saurus kingii (Agamidae), in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  12. ^ Shine, Richard; Lambeck, Robert. "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards, Chlamyd o saurus kingii (Agamidae), in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  13. ^ Shine, Richard; Lambeck, Robert. "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards, Chlamyd o saurus kingii (Agamidae), in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  14. ^ Shine, Richard; Lambeck, Robert. "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards, Chlamyd o saurus kingii (Agamidae), in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-11-18.
  15. ^ Shine, Richard (1989). "Ecology of Frillneck Lizards in Tropical Australia" (PDF). Australian Wildlife. 16: 491–500. Retrieved 2009-11-20. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  1. Bedford, G. S. 1995. Anti-predator tactics from the Frilled Neck Lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii. Journal of the Victorian Herpetelogical Society 6(3): 120-130.
  2. Harlow, P. S. and R. Shine. 1998. Temperature dependent sex-determination in the frillneck lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii (Agamidae). Herpetologica 55(2): 205-212.
  3. Shine, R. and R. Lambeck. 1989. Ecology of frillneck lizards, Chlamydosaurus kingii (Agamidae) in tropical Australia. Australian Wildlife Research 16: 491-500.
  4. From The Centre: Kakadu. Australian Broadcasting Corporation 2002.
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