Frilled Lizard

1 Overview

The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is an Australian agamid famous for the large frill around its neck, which it erects when threatened, often fleeing on two legs.

SOURCE NOTE: the source’s ‘Fnlled Lizard’ is a garbled rendering of ‘Frilled Lizard’.

2 Appearance

The body is brown to grey with a enormous circular frill of skin supported by cartilaginous rods. When raised the frill reveals vivid red/orange lining. Adults reach 60-90 cm including the long tail.

3 Care & Temperament

Requires a large, tall, hot, and arid-to-savanna enclosure with strong UVB. MBD is the main risk without proper lighting and calcium.

They are intelligent and can become tame but are mostly display animals.

4 Habitat & Environment

Open woodland and savanna. Provide high basking temperatures, a temperature gradient, branches for climbing, and low to moderate humidity.

5 Diet & Feeding

Insectivorous: crickets, roaches, and other arthropods, occasionally small vertebrates. Dust with calcium and vitamins; UVB prevents MBD.