Painted dragon (Stellagama stellio brachydactyla)
In the Arid Lands house.
Fast facts
Status Least Concern
Size Length: 30cm
Gestation 2 months
Young 3-12 eggs are laid
Life span Up to 6 years
What do I eat?
Painted dragons are opportunistic feeders, and will eat a large variety of prey, particularly insects such as ants, bees and wasps, as well as other invertebrates such as snails. They will also eat plant material and even occasionally small lizards or hatchling birds.
Where do I live?
These lizards are found across a wide area, including in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Egypt. They live in a variety of rocky arid and semi-arid areas, often in mountainous or coastal regions.
Breeding
Painted dragons usually breed between March and early June. They dig a nest in the ground to lay their eggs in. Females may lay up to two clutches of eggs a year.
Conservation
Painted dragons are categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN because they are found across a wide range of areas and there are currently no major threats to the species. They are also found in many protected areas.
Did you know?
This species is able to change colour, and they often turn lighter when they are warm and darker when they are cold.
Painted dragons are usually light or dark brown or grey, but dominant males may be brightly coloured and often have reddish-brown, turquoise and pale brown markings.
Animal ExperiencesGiraffe experience
Amazing day at Marwell zoo, topped by feeding the giraffes. Husband and I fed 7 giraffes by hand. I got sneezed on by kwame, the large male - brilliant!! Loved little Ruby. Very hands on. Not rushed at all. Thank you Megan, for making this an amazing experience for us both…Cathryn, 4th February 2016