Bearded Dragon or Jew Lizard, Pogona barbata

Plate 121. Bearded Lizard, Grammatophora barbata (now known as the Bearded Dragon, Pogona barbata). Rare in Melbourne/abundant-Murray boundary

This is commonly called the Jew Lizard by colonists, and is easily distinguished by the beard-like growth of long slender spines round the throat and parotoids, the form of which below, in the adult, is shown in the woodcut, and the similar band along the sides, as well as by the absence of any median keel along the back. Some species have the throat black.

When irritated, it inflates the body to a considerably increased size, and hisses like a snake, exciting alarm; but rarely biting. The eggs are usually 8 or 10, connected by membrane in a row.

The species is rare near Melbourne, but becomes gradually more abundant in all the more northern warm localities up to the Murray boundary.