Details
Chlamydosaurus kingii
The frilled lizard is a lizard of Australasian woodland and savanna. Diurnal and solitary, it is famous for spreading a large neck frill when threatened.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses open forest, savanna, and dry wooded habitats. Trees for resting and nearby ground for foraging are both important.
Length is about 60-90 cm and weight about 400-900 g. A long tail, slender body, and expandable frill around the neck are defining features.
It is active by day on trees and the ground. When threatened, it spreads the frill, opens the mouth, and may flee upright on the hind legs.
It is carnivorous, eating insects, spiders, and small vertebrates. It spots prey from trees and drops or runs down to seize it.
Females dig nests in the ground and lay eggs. Hatchlings are small but can already use frill displays defensively.
Its status is listed as Least Concern. Despite the dramatic display, its ordinary life is that of a mostly solitary tree-associated lizard.
