Four young frilled lizards can now be seen in their new home in Tropical World. They are around six months old, will be fully grown in the next year or two and so far they have settled in nicely.

They are also known as the frill-necked lizard or frilled dragon because of the large ruff of skin which lies folded back against its head and neck. When the lizard feels frightened, it rises on its hind legs, opens its mouth, unfurls the colourful frill and hisses, displaying bright orange and red scales. If this fails to scare off the threat, the lizard runs without stopping or looking back until it reaches a tree where it climbs to the top and relies on camouflage to keep it hidden. Besides defence, the colourful frill may be used to help regulate body temperature.

They can be found in the wild living in tropical to warm temperate forests and savanna woodlands of Western Australia, northern Australia and southern New Guinea.

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6 March 2009