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COMMON NAME: Tawny Dragon
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ctenophorus decresii
FAMILY: Agamidae
GENUS: Ctenophorus
STATUS: Secure
SIZE (cm): 8 |
DESCRIPTION: Member of C. decresii group. Females and
juveniles: Ground colour brown, greyish brown to grey, dotted with dark
brown to black over head, body, limbs and tail. Dark pigment tends to
concentrate on flanks, forming broad wavy-edged stripe or series of
blotches. Upper lips paler shade of ground colour. Ventral surfaces
white to grey, mottled with dark grey on chin and throat. Males: Dorsal
ground colour grey, bluish grey to brown. Broad dark grey to black lateral
zone (margined irregularly above, and usually below, with white, yellow,
orange to red stripes or elongate blotches) extends from ear to side
of neck to midbody or hindlimb. Lower flanks blue to bluish grey. Males
of southern populations (Kangaroo Island and southern Mt Lofty Ranges)
bear prominent blue flush over lips, chin and gular area. Those from
further north (northern Mt Lofty Ranges, Flinders Ranges, Olary Spur
and western NSW) bear yellow, pink to red flush. Remaining ventral surfaces
white, with yellow to orange flush over anterior chest and gular fold.
Throat marbled with grey or (in NSW) marked with a blackish longitudinal
streak. SVL 80 mm. Distinguished from C. fionni and C. vadnappa in possessing
tiny scattered pale tubercles on flanks (vs body scales homogeneous).
PREFERRED HABITAT: Subhumid to arid rocky ranges
and outcrops of eastern SA, from Kangaroo Island, through Mt Lofty
and Flinders Ranges and Olary Spur to Noonthorangee Range, NSW. Though
adults are restricted to rocky substrates, juveniles are often encountered
foraging on surrounding soils.
MICROHABITAT: Rock-inhabiting. Elevated perches
are favoured as basking sites, while crevices or exfoliations are
used for shelter.
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