Frilled Lizard
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Reptiles (Reptilia)
- Dietary Niche: Insectivore (Caterpillars, beetles, termites, spiders)
- Max Speed: 25 km/h (15 mph) running
- Adult Weight: 0.5 - 0.9 kg (1.1 - 2 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 10 - 15 years
- Primary Habitat: Tropical savannah woodlands, dry open forests
- Native Region: Northern Australia, Southern New Guinea
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Agamidae |
| Genus | Chlamydosaurus |
| Species Binomial | Chlamydosaurus kingii |
📖 1. Species Overview
The Frilled Lizard, or 'Frill-neck', is a large, tree-dwelling lizard famous for the large, colorful ruff of skin around its neck, which it flares out dramatically to scare off predators.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Equipped with a long tail, slender limbs, and a large frill of skin containing cartilage rods connected to the jaw bones. Skin mimics grey tree bark.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Mainly arboreal. When threatened, they open their mouths wide, flaring the bright pink-yellow frill, and can run bipedally (on two legs) to escape.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Sit on lower tree trunks, jumping down to capture insects and ants passing in the grass.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Females lay 8-20 eggs in sandy nests during the wet season, which hatch independently after 70 days.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Least Concern, though threatened locally by domestic cat predation and savannah wildfires.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- Frilled lizards can run at high speeds on just their two hind legs, keeping their body upright to stay off hot sand.
- If flaring their neck doesn't work, they run to the nearest tree, scaling the trunk out of harm's way.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the Frilled Lizard.
The Frilled Lizard is scientifically classified as Chlamydosaurus kingii. It belongs to the genus Chlamydosaurus within the family Agamidae, class Reptilia, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, Frilled Lizards inhabit Tropical savannah woodlands, dry open forests. Their native geographic range primarily spans Northern Australia, Southern New Guinea.
The Frilled Lizard is classified as a Insectivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Tropical savannah woodlands, dry open forests.
A Frilled Lizard can achieve top speeds of 25 km/h (15 mph) running and weighs approximately 0.5 - 0.9 kg (1.1 - 2 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 10 - 15 years.
The Frilled Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is currently designated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "Frilled Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) Species Profile."
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