Inland bearded dragon

Description

The popular name alludes to the ruff of skin with spiny scales that this lizard has on its neck, spines that are also present on both sides of the body. Its function is diverse: it employs it to defend itself against predators, during courtship and to intimidate possible rivals. When it feels threatened, it opens its mouth, in parallel unfolding the flap of skin on its neck with spiny scales.
It weighs about 400 grams and is between 45 and 60 cm long.
They have a large area of distribution from eastern to central Australia, occupying a large variety of habitats: from desert to sclerophyll scrublands.
They are opportunistic omnivores, as they live in places where food is difficult to find. They also feed on insects, small rodents and lizards, as well as on fruits and vegetables.
They obtain sexual maturity at one or two years of age and reproduction takes place during spring and summer, from March to September. Captive animals reveal no reproductive seasonality and can breed all year. They can lay eggs up to nine times each year, with each clutch numbering up to 24 eggs, which they place in a nest that the female digs. Females can even store sperm and can lay fertilised eggs more than once after each mating. The incubation period lasts from 55 to 75 days in captivity at around 29 degrees centigrade. 
This species is common in a good part of their area of distribution and they are very popular pets.