Dragon sightings


There are 11 genera and about 70 species of dragons (Agamidae) in Australia. 

The adult Bearded and Water Dragon are easily identified. Jacky, Nobby and Mountain Dragons are harder to distinguish from one another. 

One way that helps in distinguishing between local dragons is to know the relative sizes of local species. A standard measurement in the description of reptiles is the snout-vent length (SVL) which is measured from the tip of the nose (snout) to the anus (vent), and excludes the tail. For example the SVL of the Grassland Earless Dragon is 55mm, the Mountain Dragon 82mm, Nobbi 84mm, Jacky 120mm, Beardy 245mm, and Water Dragon 250mm.

Knowing the habitat and distribution may also be helpful in the field. Bearded Dragons are widespread in lower lying country. Water Dragons are never far from a rocky-watery habitat, as their name suggests. Likewise, Grassland Earless Dragons are confined in native grasslands. Jacky Dragons are widespread. Mountain and Nobbi Dragons are habitat specialists. The former is found in very high altitudes and the later seems to prefer rocky escarpment areas along major rivers.

Subtle differences in back markings, colour, size, spines along tail, mouth colour, habitat and behaviour help to distinguish Jacky, Nobbi and Mountain Dragons from each other. Different authors point to subtle differences in back markings to distinguish species, but this is difficult diagnostic characteristic. Each species is grey in colour but the Mountain Dragon is a little more brownish. In the breeding season the male Mountain Dragon develops a distinctive reddish hue. The Mountain Dragon has distinctive spikes (spinose scales) along the sides of the base of its tail; the Jacky and Nobbi do not. Mountain Dragons burrow and partially bury themselves, possibly to regulate temperature; the Nobbi and Jacky do not. The Mountain Dragon is less likely to climb onto rocks in open areas, it tends to remain in leaf litter and rarely breaks from cover. The Jacky is known to climb shrubs and trees. The Jacky has a bright yellow tongue and mouth which it appears to use to frighten off predators and to assert dominance; the Mountain Dragon has a yellow tongue and blue mouth and the Nobbi has a pink tongue and mouth.

Young Bearded Dragons also look like Jacky, Mountain and Nobbi Dragons but may be distinguished by the presence of lateral (side) spines which are absent from the other three species. 


Dragons



Page 1 of 16 - image sightings only

Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Strathnairn, ACT - 8 Jan 2025 by trevsci
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Fraser, ACT - 8 Jan 2025 by Rosie
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Strathnairn, ACT - 8 Jan 2025 by SWishart
Pogona barbata at Aranda, ACT - 5 Jan 2025 by KMcCue
Pogona barbata at Acton, ACT - 5 Jan 2025 by Thurstan
Amphibolurus muricatus at Watson, ACT - 5 Jan 2025 by WalterEgo
Amphibolurus muricatus at Kambah, ACT - 5 Jan 2025 by JohnBundock
Pogona barbata at Ainslie, ACT - 1 Jan 2025 by WalterEgo
Pogona barbata at Kambah, ACT - 1 Jan 2025 by LinePerrins
Amphibolurus muricatus at Paddys River, ACT - 1 Jan 2025 by DavidDedenczuk
Amphibolurus muricatus (Jacky Lizard) at Hackett, ACT - 1 Jan 2025 by zdanilov
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Greenway, ACT - 31 Dec 2024 by ChrisHolder
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Weston, ACT - 31 Dec 2024 by JimL
Amphibolurus muricatus at Coombs, ACT - 31 Dec 2024 by JimL
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Weston, ACT - 31 Dec 2024 by JimL
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Coombs, ACT - 31 Dec 2024 by JimL
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Melba, ACT - 26 Dec 2024 by dhkmapr
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Googong, NSW - 25 Dec 2024 by googswildlife
Amphibolurus muricatus at Bungendore, NSW - 25 Dec 2024 by clarehoneydove
Intellagama lesueurii (Australian Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 22 Dec 2024 by mroseby
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Yarralumla, ACT - 20 Dec 2024 by NateKingsford
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 15 Dec 2024 by TimL
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 8 Dec 2024 by TimL
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 5 Dec 2024 by HelenCross
Diporiphora nobbi (Nobbi Dragon) at Tharwa, ACT - 5 Dec 2024 by JohnBundock
Diporiphora nobbi (Nobbi Dragon) at Tharwa, ACT - 5 Dec 2024 by JohnBundock
Amphibolurus muricatus (Jacky Lizard) at Wanniassa, ACT - 4 Dec 2024 by AdamMc
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Burra, NSW - 3 Dec 2024 by MB
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Macgregor, ACT - 2 Dec 2024 by AlisonMilton
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at O'Connor, ACT - 1 Dec 2024 by jpittock
Pogona barbata at Bonython, ACT - 1 Dec 2024 by ChrisHolder
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 1 Dec 2024 by LeahC
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Nicholls, ACT - 29 Nov 2024 by LeahColebrook
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Symonston, ACT - 28 Nov 2024 by RobParnell
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Ainslie, ACT - 28 Nov 2024 by Juliainnature
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 26 Nov 2024 by HelenCross
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hawker, ACT - 24 Nov 2024 by SteveBorkowskis
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Latham, ACT - 24 Nov 2024 by MichaelWenke
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hackett, ACT - 23 Nov 2024 by Clarel
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Uriarra, NSW - 23 Nov 2024 by JimL
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Ainslie, ACT - 22 Nov 2024 by Clarel
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at O'Connor, ACT - 20 Nov 2024 by dexterurbane
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Ainslie, ACT - 20 Nov 2024 by SteveBorkowskis
Amphibolurus muricatus (Jacky Lizard) at Chisholm, ACT - 17 Nov 2024 by RomanSoroka
Pogona barbata at Mount Clear, ACT - 16 Nov 2024 by SWishart
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hackett, ACT - 15 Nov 2024 by Louisab
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Tharwa, ACT - 15 Nov 2024 by ChrisHolder
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Campbell, ACT - 14 Nov 2024 by MB
Diporiphora nobbi (Nobbi Dragon) at Strathnairn, ACT - 13 Nov 2024 by JohnBundock
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hawker, ACT - 12 Nov 2024 by SteveBorkowskis
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Campbell, ACT - 10 Nov 2024 by DavidDedenczuk
Amphibolurus muricatus (Jacky Lizard) at Kambah, ACT - 9 Nov 2024 by DavidDedenczuk
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hackett, ACT - 9 Nov 2024 by Jeanette
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hawker, ACT - 6 Nov 2024 by SteveBorkowskis
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Campbell, ACT - 6 Nov 2024 by Hejor1
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Tharwa, ACT - 5 Nov 2024 by FeralGhostbat
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Symonston, ACT - 5 Nov 2024 by CallumBraeRuralProperty
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hughes, ACT - 2 Nov 2024 by KL
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Garran, ACT - 1 Nov 2024 by ruthkerruish
Amphibolurus muricatus (Jacky Lizard) at Bonner, ACT - 31 Oct 2024 by SteveBorkowskis
Amphibolurus muricatus at Kambah, ACT - 30 Oct 2024 by SWishart
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Cook, ACT - 28 Oct 2024 by Jennybach
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hackett, ACT - 27 Oct 2024 by waltraud
Rankinia diemensis (Mountain Dragon) at Cotter River, ACT - 26 Oct 2024 by rodk
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Whitlam, ACT - 26 Oct 2024 by AlisonMilton
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Kambah, ACT - 25 Oct 2024 by LinePerrins
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Latham, ACT - 23 Oct 2024 by AlisonMilton
Amphibolurus muricatus at Tharwa, ACT - 20 Oct 2024 by ChrisHolder
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Theodore, ACT - 17 Oct 2024 by Shazw
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Nicholls, ACT - 17 Oct 2024 by SteveBorkowskis
Pogona barbata at Acton, ACT - 17 Oct 2024 by TimL
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 16 Oct 2024 by TimL
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 16 Oct 2024 by HelenCross
Pogona barbata at Kambah, ACT - 16 Oct 2024 by LinePerrins
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hackett, ACT - 15 Oct 2024 by BrianB
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Burrinjuck, NSW - 14 Oct 2024 by Bidge
Amphibolurus muricatus at Tharwa, ACT - 13 Oct 2024 by Jiggy
Amphibolurus muricatus (Jacky Lizard) at Bombay, NSW - 13 Oct 2024 by clarehoneydove
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Forde, ACT - 13 Oct 2024 by HappyWanderer
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Bungendore, NSW - 12 Oct 2024 by clarehoneydove
Pogona barbata at Watson, ACT - 11 Oct 2024 by sbittinger
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Fyshwick, ACT - 10 Oct 2024 by MB
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Kambah, ACT - 10 Oct 2024 by LinePerrins
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hackett, ACT - 8 Oct 2024 by TimYiu
Unidentified Dragon at Bruce, ACT - 6 Oct 2024 by JodieR
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Oaks Estate, ACT - 5 Oct 2024 by Paul4K
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Gordon, ACT - 5 Oct 2024 by ChrisHolder
Pogona barbata at Bruce, ACT - 4 Oct 2024 by amiessmacro
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Hackett, ACT - 2 Oct 2024 by waltraud
Amphibolurus muricatus (Jacky Lizard) at Kenny, ACT - 1 Oct 2024 by ChrisHolder
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Cook, ACT - 30 Sep 2024 by CathB
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Acton, ACT - 30 Sep 2024 by Thurstan
Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii (Eastern Water Dragon) at Adjungbilly, NSW - 29 Sep 2024 by Bidge
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Booth, ACT - 28 Sep 2024 by HelenCross
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Uriarra Village, ACT - 28 Sep 2024 by RobynHall
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Kambah, ACT - 27 Sep 2024 by LinePerrins
Intellagama lesueurii howittii at Queanbeyan, NSW - 27 Sep 2024 by JodieR
Pogona barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon) at Strathnairn, ACT - 27 Sep 2024 by Thurstan
Amphibolurus muricatus (Jacky Lizard) at Bonner, ACT - 24 Sep 2024 by yomama
Intellagama lesueurii howittii (Gippsland Water Dragon) at Oaks Estate, ACT - 23 Sep 2024 by RAllen

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1,904,288 sightings of 21,272 species from 13,103 contributors
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