A unique reptile that is well-known for its dramatic display of an extendable frill around its neck. This lizard is native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea, where it thrives in tropical and warm temperate forests. The frilled lizard is distinctive not just for its frill but also for its unusual method of locomotion; when threatened, it can rise up and run on two legs, which is an incredible sight and an effective strategy to startle predators and dissuade them from pursuing.

This lizard’s frill, which it keeps folded back against its body when not in use, is supported by long spines of cartilage that extend from the jawline to behind the head. When the lizard feels threatened, it opens its mouth wide and extends this frill, revealing a bright, colorful display that can be quite startling. The frill’s colors, which can include combinations of oranges, reds, and yellows, serve to make the lizard appear much larger than it actually is, hopefully scaring off potential threats.

Their body coloration, generally brown or gray, helps them blend into the natural environment effectively, providing camouflage from predators when the frill is not deployed. They are arboreal, spending most of their time in the trees, though they descend to the ground to hunt for food or to engage in territorial battles.

The frilled lizard’s diet primarily consists of insects, such as ants and spiders, but it will also eat small mammals, reptiles, and other lizards if the opportunity arises. Hunting typically involves lying in wait until prey comes close, then rapidly attacking with a combination of biting and clawing.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Australia

2014

Indonesia

2014

Papua

Papua New Guinea

2014

Main Island Group