Pogona minor

Taxobox
name = Western bearded dragon

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Iguania
familia = Agamidae
genus = "Pogona"
species = "P. minor"
binomial = "Pogona minor"
binomial_authority =
subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
subdivision = "Pogona minor minor"
"Pogona minor minima"

"Pogona minor" is a species of Bearded Dragons found on the southwest coast and interior of Western Australia. This taxonomic name includes the widespread type known as Western bearded dragon, "Pogona minor minor", and the subspecies, "Pogona minor minima", confined to the Wallabi Group of islands which is known as the Abroholos Bearded Dragon.cite book |last=Browne-Cooper |first= Robert|coauthors= Brian Bush, Brad Maryan, David Robinson |title= Reptiles and Frogs in the Bush: Southwestern Australia|year= 2007|month= |publisher= University of Western Australia Press|isbn= 9778 1 920694 74 6 |pages= p. 160|chapter= |chapterurl= |quote="Pogona minor minor", Abrolhos Bearded Dragon ]

Description

"Pogona minor minor" are large lizards, 38 cm in length (15 cm from snout to vent), "P. minor minima" is slightly smaller. All Bearded dragons have a chameleon-like colour, either blending into their environment or presenting a brighter display during interaction with others. It is similar in appearance to "Pogona nullarbor" and the Mulga Dragon , but is distinguished by a smaller head size, and the arrangement of spines on the underside and neck. The Western bearded dragon is widespread in Southwest Australia and central deserts, the range includes semiarid regions such as woodland or heathland, and arid desert or coastal dunes. This subspecies also occurs on Dirk Hartog Island."Pogona minor minima" is found on West, North, and East Wallabi Islands, Houtman Abrolhos. [cite web
url = http://www.museum.wa.gov.au/faunabase/_asp_bin/MapITcx.asp?d=Reptiles&t=Pogona%20minor%20minima
title = Pogona minor minima (Abrolhos Bearded Dragon)
accessdate =
author =
authorlink =
coauthors =
date =
year = 2003
month =
work = Specimen collections
publisher = Western Australian Museum
quote = represented by 94 specimen records in museum collection. North, East Wallabi and West Wallabi Islands ]

These dragons display a behaviour common to other "Pogona" species, the dragon will wave its hand to trigger a response from a potential predator. Another typical behaviour of is that of 'head-bobbing' amongst males, perhaps related to dominance within their social order. It is often seen basking on fence posts.

References

* [http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-bearded-dragon.htm What is a Bearded Dragon? ]
* [http://users.erols.com/ziring/dragon-species.html Sidney's Overview of Bearded Dragon Species ]

See also

*Bearded Dragon

Further reading

* [http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=ZO07002 Paper: "Ecology of the western bearded dragon" ...]
* [http://www.tigr.org/reptiles/species.php?genus=Pogona&species=minor Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR): Taxonomy]

External links

* [http://www.pets-lovers.com/beardeddragoncaresheet.htm Bearded Dragons basic caresheet]