Central Bearded Dragon
Pogona vitticeps
Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Agamidae
Other names: inland bearded dragon
Other Subspecies:
Other Relatives: There are 8 species of lizard in the genus Pogona, all
native to Australia.
Zoo Bearded Dragon
‘Irwin’ 0.1 – female
DOH: 2011 Aq: 10/3/2011
About Irwin
Irwin was a relinquished pet. Irwin weighs 1 lb.
Status Not Evaluated
Geographic Region
Bearded dragons occupy a large range of habitats from the desert to dry forests and
scrublands. It is a semi arboreal lizard that can be found basking on fallen branches, fence
posts and picnic tables.
Habitat
Desert, dune, savanna, grassland
Characteristics
Size: 18-22” [1]; tail accounts for over ½ the total body length
Average weight is about 10-18 ounces (283-510 gr) [2]
Longevity: 4 to up to 15 years [3] [2]
Physical Description
• They are appropriately named bearded dragons because of their "beard," an expandable throat pouch with spiky scales.
• They have a broad, triangular head, round bodies, stout legs, and robust tails.
• Color for this species depends on the soil of the region they live in, ranging from dull brown, grey, tan with red or gold highlights,
white, yellow, red, reddish-brown, or orange.
• They are capable of undergoing moderate changes in the shade of their color to help regulate temperature. [4]
• Coloration varies among the different races of the inland bearded dragons, from uniform tan to chocolate brown [2].
Dimorphism
Sexes are not strongly dimorphic, but males can be distinguished from females.
Males have a wider cloacal opening, the base of the tail is wider, the head is usually larger with a larger beard (often black) and
possess hemipenes.
Males have a much broader head than females, the male's’beard tends to be darker than the females’ [2].
Males also have more pronounced femoral pores than females (these can be seen as waxy bumps on the underside of the back
legs).
Females: Females are not markedly smaller at sexual maturity than males, but males mature at a much smaller size [5].
Diet: Opportunistic omnivore
Diet in the Wild: They live in areas where food may be hard to find, so bearded dragons are not finicky eaters. Their stomachs
are large to accommodate large quantities of plant matter, insects, and the occasional small rodent or lizard. [6]
Diet in the Zoo: reptile salad (squash, sweet potato, fruit, greens), mealworms occasionally as enrichment
Behavior
• Diurnal
• Semiarboreal, can be found basking on fallen branches, fence posts, etc. [6]
• If required, they will dig into the ground and remain dormant for long periods of time until unfavorable conditions, such as unusually
hot or cold weather, improve [2].
Defense Mechanisms
• When threatened by another inland bearded dragon or a possible predator, an inland bearded dragon will challenge the intruder by
head-bobbing, flattening outs its body, flaring out its throat and displaying the colorful lining of its gaping mouth [2].
Social Structure & Communication
