Bearded Dragon: A lizard that will wave its paw at you when it meets you. One of the few reptiles that can be “friends” with people (9 photos)

If you still think that every animal in Australia wants to kill you, then we are coming to you. Meet the bearded dragon. This is the most famous pet lizard, and today we will answer two questions: is their popularity related to their beard, and what barbershop do agamedas go to?





Wild lizards come from Australian semi-deserts and sparse forests, but it is unlikely that they will be caught and tamed on their native continent. In the 1960s, the government banned the capture, keeping and export of any local animals without special permission. However, the people caught so many tailed fish in advance that they were enough for successful breeding in captivity. Now the bearded dragon can be found in any pet store.



During home breeding, humans have developed many morphs. If wild agamas do not shine with bright colors, then at home you can find agamas for every taste!

Agama is not a village lizard, it is a healthy half-meter reptilian. And in general, our Australian friend looks more than serious - his entire body is decorated with prickly thorns, and his muzzle is decorated with a gorgeous beard!





True, lizardmen do not use the services of a barber, because their neck pouch has nothing to do with facial hairiness. But it coolly swells during danger and mating season. Lizards can also change its color depending on their mood and environment. Your facial hair can do that, huh?



In general, their wild lifestyle differs little from what they do at home. During the day they warm their sides in the sun, at night they dig holes and rest in rock crevices. True, in the Australian deserts they will be grabbed and squeezed exclusively by predators, and not out of great love, but out of great hunger.



By the way, reptiles themselves eat mainly plant foods. But they won’t refuse a protein snack either.

Despite their prickly appearance and cold-blooded nature, lizards show an interest in others unprecedented for a reptile. Moreover, this interest is not only gastronomic. Lizards lead a semi-social lifestyle and get along well in groups in a terrarium.



They communicate with each other using body language - they twitch their paws, nod their heads, rise and fall, fluff out their beards and open their mouths. Pet dragons can even learn to recognize their owner and wave their paws at him. True, there are theories that they salute only reptilians.



From the age of two, bearded men and bearded women are ready to mate. During the mating season, males play a staring contest, measure the size of their mouths and fluff out their beards, finding out who the dad is - this is where the showdown ends, fights rarely happen. Females accept the advances of the gentleman they like, shaking their heads.



50 days after mating, she will lay up to 25 eggs, and this will be the end of maternal duties. The sex of future agamates depends on the temperature—in the hottest weather, only girls hatch. The young feed on small insects, but by one year the lizards will become practically vegetarians - 80% of their menu will consist of plant foods.



So how did these little dragons win their place under the sun and UV lamp in a person’s home? They are unpretentious in terms of food and habitat, prefer conflicts peacefully, and almost do not bite. But most importantly, this is one of the few reptiles that can actually be tamed! Who wouldn't want to watch every day how a descendant of giant prehistoric cold-blooded creatures waves its paw at you?