If Lizards Had Beards
Obviously, the beard on this lizard is not like the beard that a human can grow. However, the spiked scales around its neck and face look similar enough to a human beard that this creature is commonly known as a bearded dragon.
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DownloadIf Lizards Had Beards
Obviously, the beard on this lizard is not like the beard that a human can grow. However, the spiked scales around its neck and face look similar enough to a human beard that this creature is commonly known as a bearded dragon.
What am I looking at?
This is the head and front legs of a bearded dragon – a member of the genus Pogona. You can see one of its eyes (1), its front legs (2), one ear (3), and the spiked scales around its neck (4) that give it its name.
Click to the right arrow to see more images of this lizard.
Biology in the background
Bearded dragons live in the woodlands, deserts, and coastal dunes of southeastern Australia. When they feel threatened, are trying to attract a mate, or are defending their territory, they make themselves look as big as possible by spreading out their legs; puffing out their neck, chest, and body; and sometimes even opening their mouth wide. Thanks to their hard, spiked scales, this not only makes them look intimidating but also makes them hard to swallow for many would-be predators.
Adult bearded dragons are very territorial and will defend their domain vigorously, especially from other bearded dragons. When they face off, they adopt the defensive posture described above and bob up and down to make their next move less predictable.
These lizards can grow up to 60 centimeters long (about 2 feet).
Technique
These images were created using macrophotography.
Igor Siwanowicz, HHMI's Janelia Research Campus