Frilled neck lizard

(Chlamydosaurus kingii)

Family:  Agamidae
Other names: Frilled lizard, Frilled dragon

Conservation Status

Description
The Frilled neck lizard is an iconic outback Australian animal. Belonging to the dragon family, the species grows up to one metre in length and is well camouflaged. It is well known for its stance when frightened, where it puffs out the frilled skin around its neck and opens its mouth to scare predators away. This frill is thought to help the animal to regulate its body temperature.

Frilled neck lizards run on their two hind legs.

Males are substantially larger than females.

Distribution
Frilled neck lizards are found throughout northern Australia. They are also found overseas in southern New Guinea.

Frilled neck lizards are predominantly found in savannah woodlands but will also inhabit tropical forest and grasslands.

Ecology
The species will often run up trees if threatened. They also hunt arthropods in trees. The remainder of their diet is located on the ground and consists of spiders, ants, termites, insects and other small lizards.

The Frilled neck lizard has one known predator, pythons from the genus Morelia(e.g. Carpet Pythons).

Males will fight each other for a female breeding partner. Frilled neck’s breed from September-October with young in clutches of up to 23 eggs laid from November to February. As with many other reptiles the gender of the eggs is determined by temperature. Eggs are burrowed underground in sunny areas with extreme temperatures producing more females. Once the eggs are buried, maternal instincts run out and the shallow nest is abandoned to incubate for 8-12 weeks. When they hatch, the young Frilled Necks have to fend for themselves.

Potential Threats
There is a possible threat that cane toads may impact on the Frilled neck lizard as they have with many other reptiles in northern Australia. If a Frilled neck eats a cane toad it would be assumed that they would be toxic to the lizard.

While population numbers are secure, fire practices are a threat to lizards who cannot escape large blazes. Common road-signs around the NT have the slogan “We like our lizards frilled not grilled” are in place to discourage people lighting fires.

Some predation from feral cats would also most certainly occur although it is unclear if this is having any significant impact on the species.

Climate change may also be a future threat; as temperatures rise an unequal ratio of females to males may be born if the species is unable to adapt.