- Status: Safe
- Deserts and semi-arid areas of central and eastern Australia
Numbers
- Weight
- 14 ozfrom 10 to 18 oz
- Length
- 22 infrom 20 to 24 inches as an adult, including tail
- Lifespan
- 15 yearsfrom 12 to 18 years in captivity and in good conditions; longevity in the wild is not documented
- Length at birth
- 3 ingrows up to seven times as much in adulthood
- Sexual maturity
- 12 monthsbetween 8 and 12 months of life
- Maximum longevity
- 18 yearsvalue referring to specimens kept in good conditions
Ten fun facts
its beard is made of dark, spiky scales rather than hair, which the animal inflates to appear larger to enemies.
at birth it does not exceed three inches, while as an adult it can reach up to two feet with the tail.
males have a wider head, a darker beard, and more prominent femoral pores on their legs than females do.
when young it eats mostly insects, but as an adult its diet becomes increasingly based on plants and vegetation.
during courtship the male raises himself on his front legs and rhythmically moves his head up and down repeatedly.
the male bites the female during mating, but her tough and sturdy skin suffers no damage at all.
pregnancy is noticed quickly because the belly of the female starts to swell after only one or two weeks.
it reaches sexual maturity between eight and twelve months of age, when physical differences between sexes become clear.
in captivity its reproductive instinct awakens after brumation, a winter resting period very similar to mammal hibernation.
since the nineteen seventies breeders have selected dozens of color varieties, from bright red to almost pure white.
The quiz answers
Five questions about this animal. Pick an answer and find out if it is the right one.
Question 1 of 5
Where does the bearded dragon get its name?
Question 2 of 5
Why does it expand its beard?
Question 3 of 5
How long is it when newly hatched?
Question 4 of 5
How does its diet change as it grows?
Question 5 of 5
Where does it live in the wild?
Try it yourself
Place a ruler on the table and stop your finger at three inches. That is the total length of a newly hatched bearded dragon, tail included.
Puff out your cheeks in front of the mirror and see how your profile changes. It is the same strategy as the inflated beard to look bigger without fighting.
Mark a line of two feet on the floor using some tape. That is the maximum length of an adult bearded dragon from snout to tail tip.
Data from Wikidata (Q792301) and Wikipedia (Central bearded dragon).