Chlamydosaurus kingii
This is a lizard of Australia, and the only species of Genus Chlamydosaurus. It has a "frill" which is usually folded around its shoulders (see picture), but can extend and open like a fan. The frill is the characteristic by which this dragon is best known (see picture in U. of Michigan's page.) It opens up its mouth and its frill to scare its enemies. Another reason for opening the frill is for regulating its body temperature, by letting the heat disperse. Its long tail, which is approximately two thirds of the body in length, can break away when the dragon attempts to escape from some predator. Like the Basilisk, Frilled Lizards are capable of running on their hind legs with their forelegs and their tails up off of the ground. They pray on crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, cicadas, ants, small lizards, and mice.
The above picture was taken at the Columbus Ohio, zoo, in August 2002.
Genus Chlamydosaurus
Family Agamidae
Infraorder Iguania
Suborder Sauria
Order Squamata
Class Reptilia
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
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