The Frilled Dragon or lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) occurs throughout many parts of Northern Australia and New Guinea, whilst the Bearded Dragons (Pogona ssp) occur only in Australia. The Frilled Dragons spend most of their life in trees but forage on the ground, and are best known for their habit of running along the ground on their hind limbs with their frills extended when startled. When not in use for breeding or threat displays, the frill is neatly folded away around the animal's neck. The frill can measure 12 inches or more across when fully extended.

These large lizards can reach 24-30 inches in total length, although the tail accounts for about 60% of this. Their diet consists mainly of insects, small reptiles, nestling birds and rodents, and occasionally leaves, fruit & flowers. During their cool dry season the frillies retreat to the tree tops and become inactive, but once it warms up and the rainy season starts, they become very active again, the males becoming extremely territorial with much head bobbing and frilling to keep their rivals at bay, and to attract females.

Females or sub ordinate males entering a males territory will submit to the male by flattening themselves and very slowly nodding their head up and down, If the male does not receive this signal he attacks with mouth and frill wide open. Mating is a very swift affair that lasts for only a few moments. The male approaches the female, if she doesn't flee, he grabs the back of her frill in his mouth to pin her down and wraps his legs around her pelvis, trying to align their cloacas. About 5-6 weeks after mating has occurred the female will deposit normally 6-8 small eggs into a shallow hole that she has dug into damp earth/sand.

When she has finished laying the female covers the hole back in and pats the earth down with her chin until she feels sure that their are no signs of her clutch below ground (pers obs). Females in captivity can lay 3-5 clutches per year, these eggs when incubated at 84-86 F take 80-85 days to hatch. Once they hatch the babies, which measure about 3 inches, are on their own, and will head for the shelter of trees. If they are lucky enough to survive they will reach maturity in about two years.

There are seven species of Bearded Dragons whose ranges collectively cover almost the whole of Australia, the species depicted is the Striped or Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps). These Dragons are more terrestrial by nature and will not normally venture far off the ground, fence posts, rock piles, and tree stumps are utilised as vantage points to view their territories.  Up to about 24 inches in total length, these sun loving lizards have become very popular as pets in recent years, captive bred juveniles are readily available, and make excellent pets or study subjects.