Eastern Water Dragon
The Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesuerii) is a member of the Agamidae, or dragon family and can be found throughout eastern and southern Australia, with some close relatives also occurring in the west.
As its name implies, the eastern water dragon requires a waterside habitat, whether it be the banks of a freshwater creek or river or a brackish coastal mangrove.
Appearance
The lizard’s body is some 20cm (8″) long and its tail up to 50cm (19.5″) in length. However, the longest specimen on record stretched an impressive 120cm (47″) from nose to tail. The eastern water dragon is a greenish-brown to greenish-grey colour with pale yellow bands. Many males show more vivid colours during the breeding season.
Eastern Bearded Dragon
The Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) is also a member of the Agamidae family and can be found throughout eastern Australia, along the coast of the mainland. They live in a semi-arboreal habitat, around fallen timber, tree stumps and fence posts. They are a often seen basking on roads.
Appearance
The eastern bearded dragon is variable in colour from pale grey to fawn or brown, reddish-brown or almost black on top. Its rounded, short tail is often banded and the body length is about 25cm (10″). The name comes from the well-developed pouch or beard on the throat of adults.
Characteristics & territorial behaviour
One of the most striking features of this creature’s behaviour is its elaborate, almost prehistoric, duelling for territory. The dragon is an agile creature and very at home in the water. They will quite effortlessly drop from a tree branch into the water if disturbed, and are very quick runners as well as remarkable climbers.
The younger males will perform practise fights while growing into adults. Burke’s Backyard recently filmed two Eastern Bearded Dragons warming themselves and practising their fighting techniques on a tar road. As they are cold-blooded animals they were intelligent enough to realise that they could gain warmth from the road, thereby making themselves more efficient fighters.
The lizards live in harem-like groups with the male controlling as many as ten – perhaps more – females. The females are sociable creatures, sunbathing together throughout the afternoon while the male guards his territory.
Head bobbing is the most common means of communication; it can take several forms. Males bob their heads to keep their harems in order and herd the females together. Any other intruding or marauding male is greeted with a series of warning signals, including head bobbing and arching of the tail. The intruder responds in a similar manner. Throat pouches are inflated to increase apparent size and a highly ritualised struggle then ensues, jaw to jaw.
Fortunately, this fight is somewhat akin to television wrestling. Most of it is bluff and the wounds are usually superficial, with the vanquished males left to fight another day. And to the victor the spoils – a harem, food, water, shelter and a place in the sun.
