A frilled lizard eats a pinkie mouse, Friday, at an exhibit "Lizards & Snakes: ALIVE!" at the Museum of Science in Boston. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole) (February 15, 2008)
Frilled lizards are also called frill-neck lizards or frilled dragons. They belong to the family of lizards called 'dragons'.
Like other reptiles, the Frilled Lizard is active during the day, relying on the sun to warm its body.
Habitat
Frilled Lizards live in dry forests and woodland, in the northern and north-western parts of Australia. They are often found in trees, moving easily between branches.
Appearance
A frilled lizard can be up to 95 centimetres long. Its colour matches the colour of the land and the trees it lives on. This is called camouflage. Male frilled lizards are more brightly coloured than females.
Behaviour
Frilled Lizards generally live alone, and are territorial. To escape an enemy, a frilled lizard can move very fast on its two hind legs. When it is frightened, the frilled lizard opens its mouth wide which causes it to ruffle out its red and orange, scaly frill. The frill like an open umbrella. The lizard hisses loudly too and may thrash its tail on the ground. Frilled lizards will bite an enemy with its strong teeth if it is forced to fight.
Frilled lizards are not poisonous or harmful to people.
Frilled lizards are usually active during the day, hunting insects,
ants, spiders and small mammals and lizards.
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