Eastern Bearded Dragon
S3, profile
Ellura
Eastern Bearded Dragon
S5, profile, measured
 
                      
Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Chordates (Chordata) - Reptiles (Reptilia)
Order: Scaled Reptiles (Squamata)
Family: Dragon (Agamidae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata)
This Photo:     🔍S4, profile🔎

Thank you Ralph Foster for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
~150mm SVL (Snout to Vent Length).
These are very difficult to distinguish with the Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps).
These have a curved spine line (behind the head) and many flank spines (not just one or 2 rows). One of the difficulties is that the skin has folds in the side. They can blow themselves up to look larger, or sitting normally the folds of skin bring the flank spines closer together.
They are very variable in size, colour and attributes. We think the majority of these variations are due to age, environment & health. Suspecting the larger, more colourful specimens being older; and the smaller, grey ones being younger.
Another indicator is that P barbata have yellow mouths, while P vitticeps have pink.
Matt Campbell said Eastern Bearded Dragons have "Irregular rows of spines along the side."
Asimakis Patitsas also said of Eastern; "the base of the tail has rings of enlarged scales".
We actually find that a profile shot of the head seems to highlight the difference between these & V. vitticeps more easily; the ears on these have a deep grove behind them. V. vitticeps don't seem to.

Similar Species: Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps)

Copyright © 2017-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 06-Nov-2017
This species is classed as LC (Least Concern) in the Murray Mallee, SA, by DENR (Regional Species Status Assessments, July 2010)