Size: Length
- 200mm
Identification: Colour ranges
from pale yellowish brown, shade of grey to brownish grey with up
to 7 broad blackish bars across back. Pale, enlarged scales form broken
irregular lines across body, hindlimbs and tail. A broad black line runs
from the eye, past the ear onto the side of neck. The limbs are darker
than the body and the tail may have dark and pale bands marked along it.
The belly is yellowish brown to bright red.
Juveniles, however, are darker and hence
only the pale scale pattern is often observed. Also, the belly lacks the
red pigment.
Call/Song:
Coast, ranges and hinterland of eastern Australia. Located between
Cairns and Cooktown (Qld) and Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales.
Habitat:
This lizard is found around margins of creeks, rivers and lakes,
usually seen on rocks logs or overhanging branches.
Feeding: Feeds
on a wide range of invertebrates (including molluscs and crustaceans) as
well as small vertebrates (including fish, hatchling tortoises and small
mammals).
Breeding/Nesting: Clutches
of 6-18 eggs are laid in burrows.
Movement: This lizard can swim
strongly by keeping its limbs by its side and moving its tail from side
to side. It is also able to remain submerged for over one hour. The Eastern
Water Dragon is extremely wary and will drop many metres into water from
overhanging vegetation if approached. |
Other
Common Names:
Status:
Distribution:
Abundance:
Wilson, S.K. & Knowles, D.G. (1988)
A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial
Reptiles of Australia, Collins Publishers, Australia.
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