Rusty Bearded Dragon
IUCN: Least Concern
The eight species of lizards of the Pogona genus are known as bearded dragons. Like other lizards, bearded dragons spend much of their time basking in the sun on warm rocks, and since they are semi-arboreal, they also sunbathe on branches.
Pogona species get their common name from the rows of scales under their chin that can darken and flare up into what resembles a beard. Both males and females have this trait, though males engage in this display more often as a show of dominance. On the other hand, to show submission, bearded dragons may be seen waving an arm and/or lowering themselves to the ground.
All Pogona species are native to Australia's deserts, where they will burrow when temperatures become too hot, and they undergo a type of hibernation called brumation in the cool season. During brumation, bearded dragons do not eat and will only drink water sporadically. Although Rusty's year-round living temperature is kept relatively constant so that she does not brumate, she definitely loves to bask on her enclosure rocks under her heat lamp or anywhere in the sunlight when she's taken outdoors.
Fun Fact: Bearded dragons are omnivores that are mainly insectivores when they are younger and eat more plant material as they age. Studies of wild central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), which are the most common type of pet bearded dragon, found that more than 60% of their diet is termites!
Pogona species get their common name from the rows of scales under their chin that can darken and flare up into what resembles a beard. Both males and females have this trait, though males engage in this display more often as a show of dominance. On the other hand, to show submission, bearded dragons may be seen waving an arm and/or lowering themselves to the ground.
All Pogona species are native to Australia's deserts, where they will burrow when temperatures become too hot, and they undergo a type of hibernation called brumation in the cool season. During brumation, bearded dragons do not eat and will only drink water sporadically. Although Rusty's year-round living temperature is kept relatively constant so that she does not brumate, she definitely loves to bask on her enclosure rocks under her heat lamp or anywhere in the sunlight when she's taken outdoors.
Fun Fact: Bearded dragons are omnivores that are mainly insectivores when they are younger and eat more plant material as they age. Studies of wild central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps), which are the most common type of pet bearded dragon, found that more than 60% of their diet is termites!