Frilled Lizard (redirected from frill-necked lizards)

Frilled Lizard 

(Chlamidosaurus kingi), a reptile of the family Agamidae; the only species of the genus Chlamidosaurus. The body length reaches 80 cm. The frilled lizard is distinguished by a scaly fold of skin, which forms a collar and measures 15 cm wide. The body is dark gray or yellowish brown above, with dark transverse stripes. Males have pink, black, orange, brown, and blue spots on the anterior part of the collar; the chest and throat are black.

The frilled lizard is distributed in northern and northwestern Australia and in New Guinea. It is semiarboreal and feeds mainly on insects. It can run on the ground on its hind legs, raising its trunk and holding its tail suspended. To defend itself against enemies the lizard assumes a threatening posture: it opens its mouth wide, raises its collar, sits back on its hind legs, and hisses. In active combat, it jumps on its enemy, biting it and striking it with its long, stiff tail.