The bearded dragon spends most of its time basking in the sun and snapping up small insects. However, living in the Australian Outback means it has to be on the lookout for fierce predators at all times. The bearded dragon has a great trick it uses to deter enemies-it puffs out its dark "beard" to show off spiky scales that look way too painful for a predator to swallow.
No Stud: The bearded dragon's head, back and sides are studded with dangerous-looking spikes, but they're actually harmless. The spikes are soft to the touch, and wouldn't be able to stab through an enemy's skin.
Sniper Vision: This lizard has excellent vision, which it uses to spot insect prey. The dragon is especially good at following movement, and rarely misses when it strikes at a victim that is trying to run or hop away.
The Big Bluff[]
An overblown black beard makes predators back down from this lizard.
The bearded dragon isn't much of a fighter, but it can put up one of the best bluffs in the wild. If confronted by an enemy, the dragon's neck turns pitch black, and the reptile opens its mouth wide to reveal the bright yellow lining inside. This is often enough to scare off snakes and other reptiles. If the predator persists, the dragon shows how it got its name-it puffs out a pouch on its neck, showing off the spiky scales around it. This can discourage even large predators, such as dingoes. If all else fails, the bearded dragon is a fast runner, and can make a quick escape.
Sign Language: This lizard likes to signal to others of its species. If it sees a potential mate, the dragon props itself up on three legs and waves one of its front legs in a circle. If males encounter each other, they bob their heads up and down in a ritual to establish dominance.
Heat Helps: The bearded dragon depends on heat to survive, which makes the Australian Outback the perfect habitat for this creature. The reptile basks in the morning sun to gather energy so it can hunt, then has to find another warm spot to help its body digest its meal.
Too Young to Shave[]
Many predators target baby bearded dragons, so the young reptiles are hard-wired with survival instincts. As soon as they hatch from their eggs, the lizards scatter so that any nearby predators can't snag all of them in one sitting. The baby beardies don't have the trademark beards, but they still open their mouths and hiss at anything that looks like it might attack.
Trading Card[]
Trivia[]
- The bearded dragon is featured on several Monster Mania cards:
- It is first featured in Desert Disorder on Monster Mania 57.
- It is later featured in Where In The World? on Monster Mania 70.