New Guinea tree dragon
This lizard lives at Colchester Zoo in Essex.
The New Guinea tree dragon (hypsilurus magnus) is a large sized, long tailed species of agama lizard found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Males grow up to 9.13 in. (232 mm) in length, not including the tail while females grow up to 7.24 in. (184 mm) not including the tail. Overall length can reach up to 39 in. (1m). Males can be easily distinguished from females thanks to its higher cervical crest that can be seen at the age of about 6 months. Colouration is greenish grey with shades of olive, dark green and light brown. Poorly visible cross dark bands can be seen on the back with light bands along the whole tail. Females tend to be less colourful than males.
These lizards are active during the day and spend most of their time hanging on tree trunks and branches on the banks of rivers and streams in deep tropical forests. Their claws and limbs are well adapted for vertical moving on trees and canopies.
They can tolerate higher temperatures than most reptiles, but when temperatures approach 38 °C (100 °F) they generally shelter in the shade. Males frequently threaten each other by nodding, weaving, and displaying their brightest colours to establish dominance. If that is insufficient, they lash their tails and threaten each other with open jaws. The jaws are very powerful, and older males commonly have damaged tails as results of past combat. Females may sometimes chase and fight one another, and hatchlings mimic the adults' behaviour.
The lizard hunts prey by sight, snatching it opportunistically. Their incisor like front teeth and powerful jaws are adapted to dealing with quite large, hard prey. The main diet of this lizard comprised of insects, such as ants, beetles, crickets, termites, roaches, hornworms, superworms and small mammals and lizards. They also may eat eggs of other lizards and sometimes feed on vegetation, such as suitable grass, berries, flowers and seeds.
Typically the breeding season is timed for eggs to be laid during the season after the rains. The female lays her eggs in a hole she digs with her snout and claws. The hole is 2 in. (50 mm) deep and is found in sandy, wet, damp soil that is exposed to sunlight nearly all day and covered by grasses. The eggs are laid in clutches of up to 12 eggs. Hatchlings will be between 1.45 and 1.49 in. (37 and 38 mm) body length plus their 2.95 in. (75 mm) tail. They will almost immediately start eating plants and insects.
In captivity the average life span of the New Guinea tree dragon is up to 20 years.
This species of lizard's conservation status is rated as 'Least Concern'.
New Guinea tree dragon
This lizard lives at Colchester Zoo in Essex.
The New Guinea tree dragon (hypsilurus magnus) is a large sized, long tailed species of agama lizard found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Males grow up to 9.13 in. (232 mm) in length, not including the tail while females grow up to 7.24 in. (184 mm) not including the tail. Overall length can reach up to 39 in. (1m). Males can be easily distinguished from females thanks to its higher cervical crest that can be seen at the age of about 6 months. Colouration is greenish grey with shades of olive, dark green and light brown. Poorly visible cross dark bands can be seen on the back with light bands along the whole tail. Females tend to be less colourful than males.
These lizards are active during the day and spend most of their time hanging on tree trunks and branches on the banks of rivers and streams in deep tropical forests. Their claws and limbs are well adapted for vertical moving on trees and canopies.
They can tolerate higher temperatures than most reptiles, but when temperatures approach 38 °C (100 °F) they generally shelter in the shade. Males frequently threaten each other by nodding, weaving, and displaying their brightest colours to establish dominance. If that is insufficient, they lash their tails and threaten each other with open jaws. The jaws are very powerful, and older males commonly have damaged tails as results of past combat. Females may sometimes chase and fight one another, and hatchlings mimic the adults' behaviour.
The lizard hunts prey by sight, snatching it opportunistically. Their incisor like front teeth and powerful jaws are adapted to dealing with quite large, hard prey. The main diet of this lizard comprised of insects, such as ants, beetles, crickets, termites, roaches, hornworms, superworms and small mammals and lizards. They also may eat eggs of other lizards and sometimes feed on vegetation, such as suitable grass, berries, flowers and seeds.
Typically the breeding season is timed for eggs to be laid during the season after the rains. The female lays her eggs in a hole she digs with her snout and claws. The hole is 2 in. (50 mm) deep and is found in sandy, wet, damp soil that is exposed to sunlight nearly all day and covered by grasses. The eggs are laid in clutches of up to 12 eggs. Hatchlings will be between 1.45 and 1.49 in. (37 and 38 mm) body length plus their 2.95 in. (75 mm) tail. They will almost immediately start eating plants and insects.
In captivity the average life span of the New Guinea tree dragon is up to 20 years.
This species of lizard's conservation status is rated as 'Least Concern'.