Description
The Frilled Neck Lizard has a vivid yellow mouth and a large extendable frill gathered about the neck and under the throat. It frequently runs at speed on two legs to escape danger, quickly climbing the nearest tree to safety. Their colour can be brown or grey with the frill being lighter and often tinged with orange or reddish-brown. Males are bigger than females and have a more robust appearance.
Distribution
These Dragons occupy northern and eastern Australia's coastline from Brisbane to Cape York in Queensland across the top of the Northern Territory to Broome on the north-west coast of Western Australia.
Lifespan
20 - 30 years.
Size
80 - 90cm in length and weigh 500g - 1kg.
Diet
The Frilled Neck Lizard eats mainly insects, spiders and other invertebrates, although small mammals and reptiles are also taken occasionally.
Habitat
The Frilled Neck Lizard inhabits dry woodland, shrubland and grassland. Most of the time is spent off the ground in trees, often at a substantial height.
Breeding
The female Frilled Neck Lizard lays between 8 - 14 eggs which are laid at the beginning of the wet season. Once hatched, the hatchlings are fully self-sufficient.