Have you ever read a fantasy story about a dragon and thought how much fun it could be to have a fire-breathing, flying lizard as a pet? Well, it is possible to have your own dragon--bearded dragons are kept as pets in many parts of the world! However, bearded dragons don't breathe fire and they can't fly. Let's learn what this lizard can do and take a closer look into the life of the bearded dragon.
Bearded dragons are small reptiles. These spiky-scaled lizards can grow to be nearly 2 feet long. They are generally light brown to golden red in color, and they blend in well with rocky, desert environments. Bearded dragons have triangle-shaped heads, short and strong legs, and long tails. Their bodies are rather flat, and if threatened, bearded dragons can get very low to the ground to hide and protect itself.
This animal gets its name from its dewlap, or special flap of skin that hangs from its neck and looks like a little beard. The bearded dragon can expand its dewlap to communicate with or frighten other animals. When it expands, the dewlap changes color as well--it can turn dark brown or almost black to make the bearded dragon seem larger.
Written by: Instructor: Kristina Washington-Morris
Picture of: Ramelli
