Inland Bearded Dragon

Pogona vitticeps

• Distribution:
  Australia
• Habitat:
  When young they are semi-arboreal (living in trees) and become more terrestrial (living on the ground) as they age. A large variety of habitats seem to suit them, from deserts to dry forests and scrubland.
• Diet:
  They are omnivorous opportunistic feeders and consume a large range of insects and plant materials
• Gestation:
  Females dig a burrow and lay 11-per clutch. Females have also been known to store sperm and are able to lay many clutches of fertile eggs from one mating. Incubation is 50 to 70 days.
• Longetivity:
  Average life span 15-20 years, up to 30 years in captivity
• Predators:
  Dingos, birds of prey, larger lizards and humans
• Conservation status:
   
  Not threatened
• General:

  Bearded dragons do not vocalise, except to hiss softly when threatened. They also expend a spiny pouch under the jaw which turns black as they inhale air. It is a device to make them appear larger to deter predators.

  Instead of vocalising they communicate through color displays, posture and physical gestures like arm waving and head bobbing.

  Bearded dragons are not social animals, but will sometimes gather in groups, especially in popular feeding or basking areas. At these times, a distinct hierarchy will emerge: the highest-ranking animals will take the best basking spots – usually the highest or sunniest – and all other individuals arrange themselves lower down.