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Bearded Dragons and Frilled Lizards The authors Andree Hauschild and Dr. Hubert Bosch have taken it upon themselves to write a book about Bearded Dragons and Frilled Lizards. With great care and attention they have combined all available information with their many years experience in the keeping and breeding of these animals. They have created a book that will be of great assistance to any hobby herpetologist wishing to become involved with these interesting animals Contents Acknowledgements 5 Introduction 6 Preface 7 1. Agamas 8 1.1 A short description of the characteristics of the family Agamidae (agamas) 8 1.2 Distribution 8 2. Australian Agamas 9 2.1 Adaptation to the natural habitat 9 2.2 Food spectrum 11 2.3 Behaviour 11 Members of the same species communicate mainly by means of optical signals 11 Mating behaviour and reproduction 14 Thermoregulation is accomplished by various elements 16 2.4 Peculiarities of the physical structure 18 Agamas are visual animals 18 The ears are less significant 18 Skin, colour change and body colour 18 Most agamas are incapable of autonomy 19 2.5 Flight and defence 19 2.6 Husbandry and captive breeding 22 3. The genus Pogona Storr, 1982 24 3.1 General 24 Size, build and colour 26 Sexual differences 27 Age variations 27 Feeding 27 Natural enemies 28 Reproduction 28 Gravidity and oviposition 29 Incubation and hatching 30 Rearing the young 30 3.2 Species account 33 3.2.1 Pogona barbata 33 Description 33 Distribution 33 Biotope and field observations 34 Reproduction in the wild 35 Captive husbandry 36 3.2.2 Pogona microlepidota 37 Description 37 Distribution 38 Biotope and field observations 38 Reproduction in the wild 39 Captive husbandry 39 3.2.3 Pogona minor 39 Description 39 Distribution 40 Biotope and field observations 40 Reproduction in the wild 42 Captive husbandry 43 3.2.4 Pogona minima 44 Description 44 Distribution 44 Biotope and field observations 45 Reproduction in the wild 45 Captive husbandry 45 3.2.5 Pogona mitchelli 46 Description 46 Distribution 47 Biotope and field observations 47 Reproduction in the wild 47 Captive husbandry 50 3.2.6 Pogona nullarbor 51 Description 51 Distribution 52 Biotope and field observations 52 Reproduction 53 Captive husbandry 53 3.2.7 Pogona vitticeps 54 Description 54 Distribution 55 Biotope and field observations 55 Reproduction in the wild 56 Captive husbandry 56 3.2.8 Pogona henrylawsoni 58 Comments to the name of the species 58 Description 59 Distribution 59 Biotope and field observations 60 Reproduction in the wild 62 Captive husbandry 62 3.3 Colour breeding 63 3.4 Hybrid Bearded Dragons 66 4. The genus Chlamydosaurus Gray, 1825 67 4.1 General 67 4.2 Species account 67 4.2.1 Chlamydosaurus kingii 67 Description 67 Size, build, colour and markings 67 Sexual differences 69 Age variations and life expectancy 70 Distribution 70 Biotope 70 Food 72 Natural enemies 73 Reproduction in the wild 73 Captive husbandry 74 Captive breeding 75 Rearing the young 76 Remarks 77 5. Diseases of Bearded Dragons and Frilled Lizards 80 5.1 Findings from the dissections of deceased Bearded Dragons and Frilled Lizards 81 Findings on Bearded Dragons 82 Findings amongst Frilled Lizards 83 Comparison of the findings 84 5.2 Health problems in vivarium practice 84 Parasitic infestations 84 Egg-binding 85 Sloughing difficulties 85 Sloughing problems with the frill of Frilled Lizards 85 Necrosis of the toes and tail 86 Overgrown claws 86 Genetic defects 86 Cancers 86 6. Protection and conservation measures 87 7. Glossary and abbreviations 88 8. Appendix 89 9. Bibliography 91 |
