Frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii). The frilled lizard is a master scarer What is the function of the collar of the frilled lizard

A lizard is an animal that belongs to the class of reptiles (reptiles), the squamous order, the lizard suborder. In Latin, the suborder of the lizard is called Lacertilia, formerly the name was Sauria.

The reptile got its name from the word “lizard”, which comes from the Old Russian word “skor”, meaning “skin”.

The most big lizard in the world - komodo dragon

The smallest lizard in the world.

The smallest lizards in the world are the Haraguan sphero (Sphaerodactylus ariasae) and the Virginian round-toed gecko (Sphaerodactylus parthenopion). The size of the babies does not exceed 16-19 mm, and the weight reaches 0.2 grams. These cute and harmless reptiles live in the Dominican Republic and on Virgin Islands.

Where do lizards live?

A variety of species of lizards live on all continents except Antarctica. Representatives of reptiles familiar to Russia are real lizards that live almost everywhere: they can be found in fields, forests, steppes, gardens, mountains, deserts, near rivers and lakes. All types of lizards move perfectly on any surface, firmly clinging to all sorts of bulges and bumps. Rock species of lizards are excellent jumpers, the height of the jump of these mountain dwellers reaches 4 meters.

large predators, such as monitor lizard, hunt small animals - their own kind, and also eat the eggs of birds and reptiles with pleasure. The monitor lizard from Komodo Island, the largest lizard in the world, attacks wild boars and even buffalo and deer. The Moloch lizard eats exclusively, while the pink-tongued skink eats only terrestrial molluscs. Some large iguana and skink lizards are almost entirely vegetarian, with a menu of ripe fruits, leaves, flowers, and plant pollen. Lizards in nature are extremely cautious and agile, approaching the intended prey stealthily, and then attack with a swift jerk and capture the prey in their mouths.

Komodo monitor lizard eating buffalo

Contract - lizards

Family - Agamas

Genus/Species - Chlamydosaurus kingi

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: up to 80 cm.

Collar diameter: 15 cm.

Weight up to 500 g.

BREEDING

Puberty: from 2-3 years old.

Mating period: early spring.

Number of eggs: 2-8.

Incubation period: 8-12 weeks.

LIFE STYLE

Habits: frilled lizard (see photo) - loner; does not care about offspring; guards its territory.

What does it eat: insects, spiders and small mammals.

Lifespan: about 8-10 years in captivity, in nature - unknown.

RELATED SPECIES

There are about 300 species of agamas, about 65 of which live in Australia, such as moloch and water leguan.

frilled lizard lives in trees Northern Australia and New Guinea. When this reptile raises its unusual collar, it becomes, undoubtedly, the most beautiful lizard of the continent. On the ground, the frilled lizard moves very quickly, running mainly on its hind legs.

WHAT DOES IT FEED

The basis of the diet of the lizard is insects, spiders, small mammals. There are only a few species of lizards that feed mainly on plant food. These lizards often become the prey of other animals themselves.

BREEDING

The male lizard guards his territory and drives out rivals. During the breeding season, during fights, males open their collar, showing off his collar in front of each other. bright color. In males, the front collar is brightly colored with numerous blue, white and pink spots, and the chest and throat are jet black. marriage ritual agamas, which include the frilled lizard, are quite complex. Males tend to win the favor of females. The eggs are fertilized in the body of the female. After laying eggs, the mother does not care about them or about the cubs, which lead an independent life from the moment of birth. Cubs are born after 8-12 weeks.

LIFESTYLE

Like most other lizards, the frilled lizard is active during the day. The sun, heating its blood, transfers the energy that the lizard spends in search of food. Rigid scales covering her body protect her from fluid loss. She lives in trees, where she often lies on branches and basks in the sun.

This lizard moves equally well both in trees and on the surface of the earth. She can run on both two and four limbs. When the frilled lizard runs along the ground on its hind legs, it keeps its body almost vertically raised above the ground. At the same time, the front legs hang down freely, and the raised tail makes oscillatory movements and helps maintain balance. Paleontologists believe that some ancient reptiles, such as dinosaurs, moved in this way.

The body of the lizard from above has a pink or dark gray color with dark color transverse stripes on the back and on the tail. The collar of this lizard is a thin leather membrane covered with scales. On each side, it is supported by two long cartilaginous outgrowths of the hyoid bone. In case of impending danger, the lizard opens the collar like an umbrella. At the same time, her mouth opens, and the more it opens, the wider the umbrella collar unfolds. At the same time, the lizard itself sits on its hind legs, raising the front of the body high. If the enemy does not retreat, then the frilled lizard goes on the attack: it bites strongly and strikes with its long tail. It is thought that the collar of this lizard also serves as a collector solar heat and catches Sun rays.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

AT recent times they began to be kept in terrariums and zoos. The lizard frightens enemies with its amazing "clothing" that resembles an umbrella. However, he uses it only as a last resort, basically running away from his pursuers on his strong hind legs, besides, he hurries to run to the nearest tree, where he hides among the branches. The lizard is up to 80 cm long.

• The frilled lizard is often kept as a pet. In captivity, she raises her collar only in exceptional cases.
• A remarkable feature of this lizard is its ability to run on its hind legs, keeping its body almost vertically raised above the ground. She maintains balance while running with the help of her tail.
• Along the edges of the jaw, the lizard grows strong teeth, similar to human ones: molars, fangs and incisors.
• Another tree-dwelling lizard in Australia is the Gulde monitor. Aborigines believe that wounds from his bites do not heal.
• The frilled lizard featured on the Australian two-cent coin. The lizard is also called the "dragon lizard".

Self-Defense Mechanisms of the Frilled Lizard

The collar is covered with large scales, the edges are serrated. The color of the collar varies depending on the habitat of the lizard.

In case of danger, the collar opens like an umbrella. This movement is accompanied by opening a wide mouth and hitting the ground with the tail.

- Habitat of the frilled lizard

WHERE Dwells

The frilled lizard lives in Northern and Northwestern Australia, as well as in New Guinea.

PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

Today, this lizard is not threatened with extinction.

Large frilled lizard. Impressive view. Video (00:02:08)

Large frilled lizard can reach 90 cm from the nose to the tip of the tail.
The lizard's attempts to look more impressive are funny.
However, the fact that she is only able to walk and run on her hind legs is quite impressive.
This style of running may not look natural, but for them it is the norm.
Researchers say that when they are not in trees, they spend 90 percent of their time on their hind legs.
Why do they run in such a strange way?
The lizard climbs the tree. At a height of about 2 meters, it freezes.
Looks like she's in a trap. And again in motion. Runs on hind legs. Someone has been caught.
These lizards feed on insects seen from the trees.
Thanks to good eyesight a frilled lizard can spot a grasshopper at a distance of 20 meters.
Seeing food, she immediately rushes after it.
If she moved on 4 legs, the grass would block the view and the insect could be lost from sight.
Standing upright, the lizard can constantly see the target.

Frilled Lizard Attacks Human. Video (00:00:30)

Frilled lizard. Animals & fish. Video (00:05:20)

Frilled lizard. huge claws, strong paws, sharp teeth, a long tail, fan around the neck -
This is the Frilled Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii), of the Agamidae family (Agamidae). An amazing lizard, common in Australia and lives alone, climbing high on a tree. The lizard has a long, dangerous tail, covered with sharp scales, which serve as a defense against an enemy attack.
The tail of the frilled lizard is one third of the body length and serves as a tool for attack and hunting.
The lizard has one feature - a large collar fold around the neck.
In times of danger, when the muscles of the neck tense up, the collar of the lizard rises and turns bright colors. and scares off enemies.
During the breeding season, the collar serves to attract females.
In the absence of sunlight, the collar traps heat and keeps the lizard warm.
The Frilled Lizard hunts in trees and on the ground.
During danger and hunting, the Frilled Lizard opens its dangerous, huge mouth, begins to hiss intimidatingly.
With a sharp throw, SHE attacks the gaping victim, clinging to it with huge paws with incredibly sharp claws.
In case of danger, the Frilled Lizard will surely open its huge mouth, showing the victim a series of dangerous sharp teeth.
With its gait, the Frilled Lizard resembles dangerous dinosaurs that died out millions of years ago.
The lizard preys on small mammals, will not refuse to eat large insects and spiders. She destroys bird nests and eats bird eggs.

When keeping the Frilled Lizard in a domestic environment, a terrarium is necessary.
The terrarium should have a pool of water for body thermoregulation. The lizard loves to swim.
The humidity level in the terrarium is from 50 to 70%.
Even if there is a pool in the terrarium with clean water, a necessary condition: water should always be crystal clear.
Additionally, do not forget to spray the terrarium at least 2 times a day, or put special installation sprinkling,
The temperature in the terrarium should be between 24 and 28 degrees. At night, do not drop the temperature below 20 degrees.
Install a thermostat, check the temperature in different angles terrarium.

Frilled Lizard - Frilled Lizard (Animal Encyclopedia). Video (00:00:53)

Chlamydosaurus kingii
These lizards are found in New Guinea and northwestern Australia.
On the head is a fold of skin filled with blood vessels. At the moment of danger, she inflates it, changing color and thereby visually becomes larger, frightening predators. In addition, she stands on her hind legs to appear taller and also runs away on two legs.

All About Pets: Frilled Lizard - Real Dinosaur! Video (00:03:25)

Frilled lizard. Video (00:01:13)

Trying new food...

The struggle of two male frilled lizards for a female. Video (00:01:17)

The male of the frilled lizard, the owner of the territory, is trying to drive away the rival. The stranger turns his head to the opponent.
War has been declared. Both show a menacing stance and open collars.
The battle is over. The alien male runs through the park and leaves the territory.
Yes, males arrange violent fights for females.

All About Pets: Frilled Lizard - Let's Get Acquainted. Video (00:03:39)

The mystery of the frilled lizards. Video (00:02:56)

Scientists believe that the ancestors of frilled lizards began to stand upright to improve the view of the area.
It took time to get back on my feet. But in the end, they learned to run on their hind legs.
Most other lizards do not have this ability. Why does the frilled ones have it?
The key to this mystery is in their posture. Other lizards can raise their bodies by about this much, the weight of the head prevents them from rising higher.
The frilled lizard is held vertically by throwing its head back.
The center of gravity shifts towards the hind legs, making it easier to move.
Also, to maintain balance, these reptiles stretch their long tails.
In fact, frilled lizards keep their backs upright at all times, even when perched on a tree.
They do it for the purpose of disguise. Arching its back, this lizard became like a branch.
This remarkable feature is the result of their habitual posture.
She descends again and catches the insect. Bipedalism gives best review. It allows you to keep an eye on the prey while hunting, increasing the chances of success.
However, most lizards catch their prey by moving on 4 legs without having a view of the frilled ones.
How do they do it? This is a very interesting question.
As a rule, lizards rely more on charm than sight when tracking prey.
They use language. The tongue collects smells from the air, telling who is nearby - a victim or a predator.
As for the frilled lizards, they hunt from ambush looking around the surroundings from a height.

A unique species from the agam family, which is distinguished by its very unusual appearance. A large collar-shaped skin fold, which is located around the head, allows you to unmistakably distinguish it from many species of lizards. It is not difficult to guess that it is thanks to the exotic "cloak" that the lizard got its name.

"Cloak" serves as a lizard at the same time a means of protection and communication with relatives. The cervical membrane is supported by cartilaginous outgrowths of the hyoid bone - two on each side. In times of danger, the frilled lizard spreads its “cloak”, and the outgrowths support it like the spokes of an umbrella, which at the same time turns bright red or orange, due to the location a large number blood vessels in a given skin fold. In addition, the "cloak" acts as a thermostat. If necessary, the lizard catches the sun's rays with it. Males open their coats to attract females. mating season.

Along with maintaining desired temperature it is important to make sure that. This will avoid a large number of problems associated with the development of bacteria and other unwanted microorganisms. However, ventilation should be moderate to avoid heat loss and dampness.

Lighting: photoperiod allows you to stimulate activity, reproduction and other vital important features reptiles. Fluorescent lights are the cheapest lighting option. However, the frilled lizard, like other reptiles, definitely needs full spectrum UVB lamps in order to produce enough vitamin D in the body. The following types of lamps are recommended: Zoo-med Reptisun 10.0 UVB or. They should be placed no higher than 300 mm above the lizard, as its effectiveness decreases with distance from the animal. Lamps ultraviolet radiation must be changed every 12 months.

In order to recreate the conditions of keeping for lizards in captivity as close to natural as possible, it is recommended to create the effect of dusk and dawn in the terrarium every day.

Humidity maintenance: the optimum level of humidity in a terrarium with a frilled lizard is 50-70%. To do this, you can use a sprinkler installation, or spray the terrarium once or twice a day.

Registration: the presence of thick branches and snags is important for frilled lizards, since in wild nature they spend most of their time in trees and shrubs. Avoid sharp edges and thin knots on the placed branches so that the lizard does not accidentally damage his cloak during abrupt jumps. As a decor, you can place a few clean smooth stones. Non-poisonous ones will also look great. tropical plants with dense leaves.

Apart from animal food, the lizard diet can include a small amount of plant foods, consisting of spinach, soft fruits and vegetables that grow in the habitats of these animals.

A prerequisite for the healthy life of a frilled lizard is the addition to food, which are contained in sufficient quantities in specially designed vitamin and mineral complexes.

The feeding frequency of adult lizards is 2-3 times a week. Young animals up to six months need to be fed every day, and then up to two years 3-4 times a week. It is necessary to add calcium during each feeding, both adults and young animals. Vitamins can be added 1-2 times a week.

There is one feature: when feeding frilled lizards, it is necessary to separate them from their relatives in order to avoid damage to the “cloak”, which rises and falls while eating, which can lead to bites.
It is necessary to organize a drinking bowl with clean water for lizards, as they drink quite a lot, especially after eating.

Breeding in captivity

Frilled lizards become sexually mature at the age of one year. However, it is recommended to allow the female to breed no earlier than at the age of 2 years. Egg laying takes a lot of calcium from the lizard, as well as energy, and therefore in more early age reproduction can shorten the life of the female.

In the wild, the breeding season for frilled lizards falls between August and December. This period should be preceded by wintering (cool dry climate), it should be replaced by a warm wet season. During this period, it is necessary to increase the amount of calcium and protein in the diet of lizards. Approximately after a month of active feeding, one can observe the beginning of the mating season of these lizards. The courtship of the male is expressed in the easy opening and closing of his cloak, which is accompanied by a shaking of the head. The female answers him by shaking her head, cloak, and also her forelimb.

After successful mating, the female lays eggs in wet sand. The thickness of the soil for laying should be 15-20 cm. The laying may consist of 12-18 eggs, depending on the size of the female. The weight of each egg can reach 2.4 g -4.6 g. The incubation period lasts from 54 to 92 days. Masonry is recommended to be removed from the terrarium and placed in a special container. When doing this, make sure that the eggs are not damaged. To do this, you need to remove the masonry along with the soil.

During incubation period the temperature should be 28-29 ° C. With an increase or decrease in temperature, only females develop from eggs. After hatching, the young must be placed in a terrarium separate from their parents.

The Australian frilled lizard is one of the representatives of the Agam family, of which there are more than three hundred species. However, these agamas managed to stand out among the mass of relatives and attract the attention of even those people who are not at all interested in lizards. And the point is not only in their original appearance, which makes individuals look like dragons, but also in a very unusual manner of scaring off enemies and moving around - how many lizards run fast on two legs?

The homeland of these reptiles is South Guinea, in addition, individuals are also found in Australia. A suitable habitat for these creatures is forests, woodlands, as well as savannahs overgrown with trees. Most time individuals are on trees, however, in search of food, they can go down. Their prey can be both reptiles and invertebrates, as well as small animals.

The frilled lizard is not very active during the hunt, it patiently waits for the intended prey to approach. During the dry period, all the inhabitants have a hard time - everyone does not have enough food. But the frilled lizard is so patient that it climbs into the crowns of trees and waits there for up to 12 weeks. The fact is that when the lizard is in the shade of the branches, it lacks heat, and the metabolic processes in its body slow down by 70%.

In open areas, representatives of the species have a huge number of enemies - lizards are hunted by cats, snakes, and even predator birds. In the process of evolution, individuals developed a unique protective system:

1. Seeing the enemy, the individual stops moving, as if numb, tries to hide so that the enemy does not notice it. If that doesn't work, then the lizard moves on to the next stage.
2. The reptile begins to make hissing sounds, opening its mouth wide, opening an umbrella collar, twisting its tail and standing up on its hind limbs. In most cases, the pursuer becomes confused and backs down out of surprise.
3. If such actions were unsuccessful, then the frilled lizard quickly runs away, again being in an upright position, using its hind legs and a long tail to maintain balance.

Concerning "cloak", then it performs several functions, in addition to the protective one. This unusual design in the form of a cervical membrane rests on the cartilaginous outgrowths of the hyoid bone - in pairs on both sides. Sensing danger, the reptile spreads its cloak, which is supported by outgrowths, like an umbrella on knitting needles. Due to the abundance of blood vessels, the tissues of the collar become bright red or orange in color.

In addition, the “cloak” acts as a thermostat, if necessary, the agama catches ultraviolet rays with it. Also, males "flaunt" this original decoration to attract the attention of females during the mating season.

The color of individuals depends on the area in which they live. For example, a variety of frilled reptiles, whose habitat is the northwestern part of Australia, are colored in yellowish-brown tones. But individuals from the south of New Guinea are darker, in their color there are dark brown, black and gray shades.

How to keep and care for a pet

The frilled lizard is not the easiest to keep a pet which needs certain conditions. The owner, who decides to have such an exotic animal, needs to take care of numerous things.

Spacious and well-equipped terrarium

It is important that the bottom area of ​​the container is of a decent size. Unlike other reptiles, these lizards sit in trees almost all their lives and require space. The length of the tank should be at least 1.3 m, and a height of about a meter.

All walls of the terrarium, except for the front, should be covered with opaque sheets so that the inhabitant feels safe and not stressed. Individuals have excellent eyesight and will react to the slightest movement in the room. In addition, in a closed dwelling, it is easier for a reptile to concentrate on food without being distracted by extraneous things when it is being fed.

By the way, experts advise placing a newly acquired pet in a tank with closed glasses, this will speed up the adaptation process and reduce stress. The tank should be decorated with branches and snags, on which the inhabitant will climb, rest and bask. This will bring the aquarium conditions closer to natural environment.

Lighting and temperature conditions

To increase the humidity in the terrarium, it is recommended to periodically spray it with water. For a comfortable stay of the reptile, the tank should be equipped with a UV lamp and a heater. In the heating zone, the air temperature should warm up to 40 ° -46 ° C, the heat should be directed to the upper branches.

It is important to place the devices correctly - at a decent distance from the branches (no less than 30-35 cm), so that the lizards do not get burned. The air temperature in the rest of the area is 30°-32°C, at night it can drop by 5-7 degrees. The light day of these inhabitants should last about 12 hours.

Suitable substrate

A mixture that includes coconut flakes, sand and garden soil works best. It is poured with a layer of at least 4 cm, the material perfectly retains moisture and does not rise into the air with dust. It is also acceptable to use mulch and special mats for reptiles.

How and what to feed frilled reptiles

The basis of the diet of these reptiles is insects. It is advisable to feed these exotic pets with a variety of foods - crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, worms, zoophobus larvae. To include a top dressing containing vitamin D3 and calcium in the pet’s menu, you can sprinkle food on it. Large representatives of the species can eat naked mice.

Lizards will be happy to eat pieces of fruit, but here everything is individual - the owner should find out what his pet likes. Young animals should be given food every day, three times a day, and it is better to use medium-sized insects.

Adults are offered food 1-2 times a day, not forgetting the vitamin-calcium supplement. Lizards bearing offspring are fed 3-4 times a day, adding top dressing to each feeding.

Do reptiles need water?

In their natural environment, frilled lizards maintain water balance during the rainy season. In captivity, the humidity in their home should be approximately 70%. To maintain it, you should spray the walls and decor of the tank with water every day, and young animals - at least three times a day. If finances allow, it is recommended to equip the terrarium with a special system that will maintain air humidity in the tank.

If the lizard wants to drink, then it will collect water droplets from objects, as in nature it drinks them from the leaves of trees. But a bowl or drinker will not attract her attention in any way. But you can still install it so that the moisture evaporates and provides the necessary humidity. How do you know if a reptile is dehydrated? First of all, her eyes sink. The second sign is a change in the structure of the skin; after a pinch, the resulting fold is not smoothed out.

In these cases, you should immediately spray the tank with water and observe how the pet behaves. And it’s better, without waiting for the worst, to immediately go to the veterinarian - perhaps the lizard will need a subcutaneous injection of liquid.

The frilled lizard is amazing unusual creature, which does not need caresses and sitting on the handles, like a cat or a dog. Therefore, it is worth protecting the pet from excessive attention and contact, since, when worried, the individual will turn on its defense system, which will significantly shorten its life cycle.

Agam family. Lives in the north of the Australian continent and the south of the island B natural conditions can live up to 5 years, in captivity lives up to 10 years.

In length, the frilled lizard grows up to 80 cm, with more than 50 cm falling on the tail. Weight can be up to 0.7 kg. Her body may have a pinkish tint or dark gray. There are transverse stripes running along the tail and back, which are more noticeable in young individuals. The whole body is covered with scales that perform a protective function.

The name of the lizard was due to a thin skin membrane around the neck, interrupted at the back of the head and dissected under the throat, resembling a collar or cloak. covered with flat scales, slightly thickened towards the edges and supported by two long cartilaginous outgrowths. When the muscles that support the outgrowths are tense, the cloak can rise and fall when these muscles relax. In a calm state, the collar of lizards is hardly noticeable.

The cloak of males is brightly colored, since in addition to scaring off enemies, it also serves to attract females during the mating season. With the help of the collar, the animal can regulate its body temperature: in the morning, the protruding cloak catches the sun's rays, while elevated temperatures it promotes cooling.

The frilled lizard lives in trees, but in search of food it can descend to the ground. Prey are various invertebrates and small reptiles, less often small mammals.

The frilled lizard is vulnerable to enemies of snakes, cats) in open areas. Therefore, she developed her own special defense mechanism. When meeting with the enemy, she freezes, hoping that she will go unnoticed. If she is still seen, she sharply straightens her collar and makes hissing sounds. The more the mouth opens, the more the collar unfolds, which in adult males can reach a diameter of 20 cm. As a rule, the enemy retreats from surprise. To enhance the effect produced, the lizard flaunts its teeth, rises on its hind legs and twists its tail. If all intimidation fails, she flees or attacks the enemy. When attacking, it can bite painfully, inflict tangible blows with a tail covered with prickly scales. When fleeing, the frilled lizard moves only on its hind legs, using its tail to maintain balance.

During the breeding season, the male, nodding his head in a certain way, invites the female to mate. During intercourse, the male holds the female with his teeth. Later, the female, having made a hole in the wet sand, will lay 8-14 eggs in it. The offspring will hatch in approximately 10 weeks.

There are lovers who keep lizards at home. In the terrarium, there must be driftwood and a drinking bowl with clean water, in which you need to put a stone so that you can get out of the bowl. required. The temperature should be maintained at 30°C and the terrarium should be sprayed periodically, at least once a day.

You can buy lizard food at pet stores. You can also feed your pet with live insects, small mammals, bird eggs. domestic lizard will not refuse the prepared mixture, consisting of meat, grated carrots and chopped lettuce in a ratio of 2:2:1. It is desirable to add vitamins and calcium to such a mixture.