Australian Water Dragons

Physignathus Lesueurii

The Australian Water Dragon is a lizard native only to Australia where it is found mainly in the North East. In these areas it is reasonably common. It is greeny brown in colour (sometimes called the "brown water dragon") with a banded tail. The body also has less prominent bands. It usually grows to around two feet in length but males can reach up to three feet on occasion.

There are two subspecies: Physignathus lesueurii lesueurii, the "Eastern Water Dragon", which has a dark band behind the eye and Physignathus lesueurii howitti, the "Gippsland water dragon", which has bands down the throat.

Water dragons are semi-aquatic and semi-arboreal - they like both trees and water. The Australian Water Dragon can stay submerged for up to 30 minutes at a time. It then pokes its head up for air and checks whether or not it is safe to emerge.

Water dragons are omniverous. They will occasionally eat fruit or vegetables however they like a lot of meat. In the wild they eat frogs, rodents and small birds.

When properly cared for, water dragon lizards have been known to live up to 18 years in captivity.