The Bearded Dragon is not as Ferocious as the Name Sounds

The bearded dragon has a very fitting name. This favorite among collectors lives up to its name by sporting a beard. The beard is actually a hunk of skin that hangs under its mouth. The skin has spines, and when the animal feels threatened, it can cause the beard to puff up to make it appear larger and scarier.

If you go to Australia, you may just see one of them in the desert or in the wooded areas. They enjoy the brush, and they like to lay on branches and rocks to take in some sun. It is common to see them near populated areas, as well. This affords them the opportunity for more shelter and bits of discarded food.

Though they are harmless, bearded dragons look quite dangerous to their enemies. The sides of their heads are lined with spiked scales, and those spikes run down the sides or their bodies. Though they are not actually sharp, a predator may think they are, and they also serve as protection for the lizard’s skin. The lizard is flat, and therefore it lies close to the ground, but its belly is rounded on the sides making it look plumper than it really is.

If you were watching a bearded dragon as it met up with its fellow beardies, you might think it to be quite friendly. It will often wave its hand to let the others know that it wants to be friendly and not aggressive. While it would be interesting to see, they do not shake hands, just wave them.

They may also change colors when they are cold. The darker color retains more heat. If that doesn’t do the trick, they will dig down and camp under rocks and dirt to get out of the cold. They sometimes even hibernate, which in their case is more properly called brumation – a form a dormancy. When the dragon does this, it slows its metabolism down so that it expends less energy, and it can live with minimal amount of food.

Pogona is the official name of the genus, and the agamid lizard, or dragon lizard, is of that genus. The Pogona vitticeps is the official name of the bearded dragon, and it is the one most often kept by pet owners. Collectors also call them beardies.

Those kept by collectors can grow to almost two-feet long and weigh over a pound; however, in the wild, they will grow to be a foot to a foot and a half long. That is because of the availability of food and the life span difference. Food can be scarce for them in the wild, but in captivity they are fed a variety of insects, fruits and vegetables.

If you are considering an exotic pet that you and your children will enjoy, a beardie would be a good choice. They are good with children, and they are mild mannered and easy to care for. Many owners find themselves just spending hours watching and musing over their bearded dragon.