FAUNA - Rescuing, caring for and rehabilitating orphaned, sick or injured native wildlife in South East (SE) Queensland, Australia

FRILL NECKed LIZARD

Otherwise known as the ‘cloaked-lizard’, the Australian Frilled Lizard is truly a unique creature. Its spectacular frill is used for defence and communication. This distinctive reptile loves the sun and is a member of the dragon family, a sub-species of lizards. Like most lizards it is active during the day. The energy absorbed from the sun warms its body allowing it to feed and run quickly.

Adult Frilled Lizards vary in size and weight but are usually between 70-95cm in length (from head to tail). Their long, strong tail can measure up to 65cm alone. They can weigh up to 500gm. The diameter of the frill is 20-25cm, about the size of a small dinner plate!

Breeding and Lifecycle: The male Frilled Lizard performs an elaborate dance to attract a female. It is always the male who courts the female. For the female to make her interest known she will head bob and not run away, showing no aggression. Mating occurs around September. The male is extremely territorial and becomes aggressive towards other males or rivals.

Eggs are fertilised internally. The female lays 8 to 23 eggs in the ground around November. The tiny eggs weigh 3-5 grams, compared to a chicken weighing about 60gm, they’re tiny! The eggs hatch in 8-12 weeks, usually in February. Young Frilled Lizards are fully independent as soon as they hatch.

The lifespan of a Frilled Lizard in the wild is unknown. In captivity it is about 20 years.

Habitat and Distribution: Frilled Lizards can be found throughout northern and north western Australia. They favour tropical to warm temperate dry forests, woodlands and savanna woodlands, usually with an open shrubby or tussock grass understorey. This reptile chooses to dwell in trees. Using its long, slim front limbs and its strong hind legs it is able to stretch and move easily between branches. Frilled Lizards mostly live a solitary life, defending their territory against rivals.

Diet: The Frilled Lizard hunts in the trees for spiders and insects like cicadas. It goes to the ground looking for ants, small mammals and small lizards.

Threats to Survival: The main predators of the Frilled Lizard are birds of prey like eagles and owls, larger lizards, snakes and some mammals like dingoes and quolls. When it sees danger the Frilled Lizard slowly lowers itself onto the ground, relying on its natural body colours to act as camouflage. If the lizard feels threatened it will extend its legs, open its brightly coloured mouth and show its teeth. It erects the frill which looks like a scaly umbrella. This helps to make it look bigger. With a loud hissing sound, it will jump towards the threat. If the frill and hissing is not effective the Frilled Lizard will begin to thrash its tail repeatedly, whipping it against the ground. As a last resort, the lizard will make a sudden turn and run off on its hind legs to the nearest tree, climbing until finding safety. If it is forced to fight, the Frilled Lizard is able to deliver painful bites with its large canine teeth.

While the Frilled Lizard is in no present danger of extinction, in the south eastern parts of its range it is diminishing in numbers. This is a result of land clearing, destruction of habitat and hunting by feral cats.