30 Bearded Dragon Facts (the Funny, the Interesting, & the Weird)

Bearded dragons are one of the most popular pet reptiles!

They are straightforward to look after and have interactive personalities.

Bearded dragons are well known for their interesting behavior, such as head bobbing and their famous arm wave.

We’ve listed some of the most impressive bearded dragon facts below.

There are also answers to more basic questions such as ‘Where are bearded dragons from?’.

Bearded Dragon being handled by a person
Bearded dragons are great pets as they can be very interactive.

In Short

In this article, you’ll find answers to common questions about bearded dragons and also learn even more about these interesting lizards, such as:

  • Where Do Bearded Dragons Live?
  • Weird Facts About Bearded Dragons
  • Funny Facts About Bearded Dragons
  • Bearded Dragons Facts For Beginners
  • Interesting Facts About Bearded Dragons
  • Bearded Dragon Facts You Need to Know
  • Where Are Central Bearded Dragons From?
  • Male Bearded Dragons Vs. Female Bearded Dragons

Where Are Central Bearded Dragons From?

In the wild, the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) lives in inland and eastern Australia.

Nowadays, many bearded dragons live in domestic settings due to the pet trade.

Bearded dragon stepping in its food bowl
Bearded dragons make fulfilling and beautiful pets.

The bearded dragon lives in a variety of habitats down under!

Where Do Bearded Dragons Live?

A bearded dragon’s habitat includes:

  • Dry forests
  • Scrub-like areas
  • Desert-like areas
  • Spacious woodlands

A bearded dragon’s skin is different depending on the appearance of their home.

Scientists have discovered that bearded dragons have the ability to change color to match their habitat.

Bearded dragons are semi-arboreal and love to climb trees!

Bearded dragon playing on grass
Bearded dragons enjoy time outside, so long as it isn’t cold!

Male Bearded Dragons vs. Female Bearded Dragons

The gender of exotic pets can be difficult to work out.

Here we have listed some key differences between female and male bearded dragons for recognition at home and in the wild:

  • Behavior – The ‘head bob’ is behavior more often found between two competing males. The ‘arm wave‘ is more frequently displayed by female animals.
  • Use of scales – Males use their spiny scales to show they are ready for mating; females use them when they are scared.
  • Femoral pores – Femoral pores are more prominent in male individuals.
  • Digging activity – Males dig holes for ‘brumation‘. Females dig holes to lay their eggs.
  • Tail morphology – Male bearded dragons have a thicker tail than females.
  • Hemipenal lumps – When shining a light through their tail, you can see two ‘hemipenal’ lumps in male animals and one lump in females.
  • Head morphology – Females have a smaller beard than males.

Bearded Dragon Facts for Beginners

Here we have listed facts for those new to the world of beardies:

1.

Their size ranges between 18 to 22 inches.

2.

Their average weight is between 10 and 18 ounces.

3.

Bearded dragons live between 4 and 10 years of age.

4.

Like other lizards, bearded dragons do not like cold weather.

5.

Like other lizards, bearded dragons use their short tongue to catch prey.

6.

A slow bob signifies submission, and a fast head bob shows dominance.

7.

The most common species for pet owners is the central bearded dragon.

8.

They are omnivores, meaning they consume both plants and meat (small rodents) as food.

9.

Bearded dragons are ‘diurnal,’ meaning that they’re active in the day and at night.

10.

When a dominant dragon male is ready to mate, his beard becomes black. This color change is where the name ‘bearded dragon’ comes from!

male bearded dragon with a black colored beard
The typical black-colored beard of a male who is ready to mate.

Bearded Dragon Facts You Need to Know

Potential pet owners can read facts that are especially important if you’re thinking of getting a bearded dragon:

11.

These lizards communicate via body language.

12.

When brumating, bearded dragons may only drink water sporadically and stop eating altogether.

13.

Male bearded dragons can be aggressive towards other males, so it is best to keep them apart.

14.

If bearded dragons feel threatened, their defense mechanism is to make themselves look larger by inflating their beard to display dominance.

15.

These cold-blooded animals must be allowed to exhibit a specific behavior called basking. Basking enables bearded dragons to maintain an optimum body temperature.

Funny Facts About Bearded Dragons

Here are some dragon facts to make you laugh:

16.

Beardies love carrots!

17.

A bearded dragon can run using only two legs.

18.

Bearded dragons can recognize humans and wave to them.

19.

A bearded dragon will lie wherever it can to absorb more UV rays – even on top of each other!

Three bearded dragons basking on top of each other
Bearded dragons competing for UV rays.

Interesting Facts About Bearded Dragons

Here we have compiled some especially intriguing facts:

20.

A bearded dragon can move in water in a swimming motion.

21.

Don’t be mistaken by their slow bob. Bearded dragons can travel at speeds up to 9 mph!

22.

A high incubation temperature of male chromosomes results in the development of female baby bearded dragons.

23.

After the mating season, a female dragon can store sperm from a male to use when needed in future breeding seasons.

24.

When bearded dragons lose any front teeth, they can regrow them within their strong jaws. The rest of their teeth, besides the front teeth, are permanent.

25.

It is possible to tell the mood of a bearded dragon looking at its spiny scales. If they are calm, the scales will lay flat, whereas if they are stressed, they become rigid.

Weird Facts About Bearded Dragons

Some unexpected facts about these popular lizards:

26.

Their scales puff out when they are feeling stressed.

27.

A dragon puffing out its scales can be backed up by a hiss or bite.

28.

They can change skin color within their lifetime after each shedding.

29.

Signs of a dragon feeling vulnerable include head bobbing, hissing, and biting.

30.

A dragon can sleep just on two legs (hind legs). Bearded dragons can lock their hind legs to enable them to sleep standing up.

If reading about these great pets has left you eager for more, you can find more detailed information about them in our care guide.

If you are not sure whether your dragon is behaving normally, don’t hesitate to seek veterinary advice.

Did you come across some other facts about central or other bearded dragons? Tell us in the comments below!

Stacey
Stacey

I’m Stacey, the owner of this website and lifelong reptile lover, caretaker, and educator. Here you will find everything from information on how to care for reptiles, to even how to give your reptiles the best fighting chances against a range of common reptile diseases and illnesses, and everything in between!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Join the discussion! Leave a comment below nowx
()
x