Frilled lizards are one of the most interesting lizard species, and the frill around their necks isn’t the only thing that makes them unique. If you’re in the mood to learn more about them, here are five fun facts that will help you gain new appreciation for this lizard species.
Origin Country
Frilled lizards are native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea, and they’re the only member of their genus Chlamydosaurus, a Latin word that can be translated as “cloaked wizard”.
Tree Dwellers
Frilled lizards are known as arboreal creatures because they spend 90% of their time in trees, only leaving to feed, interact with other lizards, and travel to a new tree.
Frill Coloration
The frills of these wizards usually have red, orange, yellow, or white coloration, determined by several factors, including their place of origin, carotenoids and pteridine pigments, and steroid hormones.
Defense Mechanism
These lizards have a disc-shaped frill that can reach over four times the length of the animal’s torso. They’re a part of their defense mechanism system because they can use it to intimidate predators.
Reproduction Process
Female frilled lizards can lay up to 20 tiny eggs in an underground nest, and the babies can hatch and become independent after several months, capable of hunting and utilizing their frills.
