Brought to Sharon Audubon Center: November 2009

History: Dundee was someone’s pet that was donated to the center to be used in educational programs, such as Animal Menagerie and Radical Reptiles. Since the disposition of Bearded Dragons is such that they seem to enjoy the company of people, are gentle and tame, he has made a great addition to the center's education animals.

Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

Did you know? Like most animals that live in a desert environment, the Bearded Dragon will spend the hottest part of the day underground in a borrow or underneath a log. These lizards are also one of the few lizard species that are social. Male to male combat can occur, but overall they prefer the company of their own kind.

Description: The Bearded Dragon has a blunt arrow-shaped head and spiny scales on the throat and on the side of the head. Along the sides of its body it also has pointy, rough scales. When threatened, "beardies" flatten out their bodies, making themselves look wider. The "beard" in the dragon's name comes from its flared-out throat, which it uses to scare off potential predators and competitors.

Habitat: Bearded Dragons live in rocky, desert regions and open woodlands.

Range: The Bearded Dragon is native to central Australia and perfectly adapted to desert living.

Diet: Being omnivores, these lizards eat both plant matter and animal protein. They are voracious eaters of invertebrates and even small vertebrates, like mice. They will eat greens, fruits, flowers, crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, and waxworms in captivity.