Frilled Lizard

Affectionately called “frillies,” Frilled lizards are a striking reptile with a fun and intimidating sense of fashion. Their trademark frill—their most distinct feature and the reason for their name—is only displayed when the lizard is frightened or during courtship rituals. A relatively large lizard, Frilled lizards are at home in northern Australia, and (like many of Australia’s animal inhabitants) they have evolved a few interesting and unique characteristics. Frilled lizards live in a variety of different habitats. Interestingly, the color of a Frilled lizard is largely dependent on the area where it is found. Lizards in a dry and arid region often have red, brown, or orange scales—but those that live in a damper, more tropical climate will be gray or even green in color. This interesting pattern of adapted coloration acts as camouflage, allowing them to blend in with their surroundings and avoid the prying eyes of potential predators. These Frilled lizards are arboreal, meaning that they spend the majority of their time in the trees. Much of this time, especially during the dry season, is spent resting to conserve energy. In order to catch food, Frilled lizards will descend from the trees and hunt small invertebrates. They have also been known to occasionally feed on small mammals or scavenge pieces of meat. As cold-blooded reptiles, Frilled lizards must regulate their body temperature in order to stay healthy. They do this by basking in the sun for extended periods of time, absorbing heat via solar radiation. It was previously thought that their frills aided in this process, but this has been disproven. When frightened, Frilled lizards will extend the bones of their frill to appear much larger and more intimidating than they actually are. This is what is known as a diamatic display. If a predator pursues them, Frilled lizards are capable of running in a bipedal manner on their two hind legs, achieving great speeds. Aside from these tactics, Frilled lizards are largely defenseless, falling prey to dingoes, eagles, snakes, and even larger lizards.