Critter Corner – Boyd’s Forest Dragon

#CritterCorner – Did you know dragons still exist in Australia?

Ok, so they’re not the flying, fire-breathing creatures of legend, but they’re every bit as fascinating.

Meet Boyd’s Forest Dragon (Lophosaurus boydii), a remarkable rainforest reptile found only in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland.

This ancient-looking lizard is thought to have arrived in Australia from Southeast Asia when land connections existed between New Guinea and Australia during periods of lower sea levels. Today, it remains one of the Wet Tropics’ most distinctive reptiles.

Of Australia’s two rainforest dragon species, Boyd’s Forest Dragon is the larger. Adults grow to around 15 centimetres in body length, with a tail that can be twice as long. Their spiky crest, large cheek scales and bright yellow dewlap give them a prehistoric appearance that has earned them their dragon-like reputation.

Active mainly during the day, Boyd’s Forest Dragons are often seen clinging motionless to tree trunks with their heads pointing upwards and their tails hanging down. If approached, they rarely bolt. Instead, they slowly creep around to the opposite side of the tree, relying on camouflage to avoid detection.

Although they spend much of their lives remaining still, they are highly adapted to rainforest life. Unlike most lizards, Boyd’s Forest Dragons generally do not bask in the sun. Instead, they allow their body temperature to fluctuate with the surrounding air temperature, a strategy known as thermoconforming.

Their diet consists mainly of earthworms and other invertebrates, although they will occasionally eat fruit and small vertebrates. Foraging among the leaf litter and forest floor helps them take advantage of the rich variety of food available in rainforest ecosystems.

Life in the rainforest is not without its dangers. Known predators of Boyd’s Forest Dragons include Grey Goshawks and feral pigs, while Slaty-grey Snakes (Stegonotus cucullatus) have been recorded preying on their eggs.

Although Boyd’s Forest Dragon is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and its population is considered stable, it remains closely tied to the health of the Wet Tropics rainforest.

Protecting rainforest habitat helps ensure these unique reptiles continue to thrive. As with so many Wet Tropics species, their future is linked to the future of the rainforest itself.

The next time you’re exploring a rainforest track, take a closer look at the tree trunks around you. What appears to be a patch of bark might just be one of Australia’s real-life dragons.

Fun Facts About Boyd’s Forest Dragon

• A New Name: Boyd’s Forest Dragon was formerly known as Hypsilurus boydii and is now classified as Lophosaurus boydii.
• What Does Lophosaurus Mean? The name comes from the Greek words lophos meaning “crest” and saurus meaning “lizard”.
• Master of Camouflage: Rather than running away, these dragons often slowly move around to the opposite side of a tree trunk to avoid being seen.
• No Sunbathing Required: Unlike most lizards, Boyd’s Forest Dragons generally do not bask and instead allow their body temperature to fluctuate with the surrounding air temperature. The one possible exception to this general rule is pregnant females.
• A Rainforest Specialist: This species is found only in the Wet Tropics of North Queensland.

References

• Wet Tropics Management Authority
• Atlas of Living Australia

 

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