The frilled lizard, scientifically known as Chlamydosaurus kingii, is easily recognized by the large, pleated ruff of skin encircling its neck. This distinctive reptile, often called a frillneck, is a species of agamid lizard adapted to specific environmental conditions. It is native to the warm, tropical landscapes of the Australasian region.
Primary Geographical Range
The native range of the frilled lizard spans the northern third of Australia and the southern part of New Guinea. In Australia, the population is broadly distributed across the tropical northern territories, extending from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. The range continues eastward through the Northern Territory’s Top End, including Kakadu National Park, and into Queensland, reaching the Cape York Peninsula and south toward Brisbane.
The species also maintains a presence in the southern lowlands of New Guinea, predominantly in the Trans-Fly ecosystem. This area straddles the border between Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian provinces. This wide distribution highlights the lizard’s adaptability to similar tropical climates.
Defining the Arboreal Habitat
Frilled lizards are predominantly arboreal, spending the vast majority of their lives in trees and relying on vertical structures for survival. Their preferred environments are tropical savanna woodlands, open eucalypt forests, and dry sclerophyll forests where trees provide ample canopy cover. These areas are characterized by well-drained soils, which support a variety of tree species, particularly Eucalyptus.
The lizards use tree trunks and branches for hunting, thermoregulation, and protection from predators. They are diurnal, spending their days basking vertically on tree trunks to regulate their body temperature.
The seasonal cycle dictates their activity. During the wet season, when food is abundant, they are more active and may spend time on smaller trees closer to the ground. Conversely, the dry season sees them retreat to the higher branches of larger trees, reducing their movement and metabolic rate to conserve energy and water. This reliance on the tree canopy means the health of the woodland environment is directly linked to the lizard’s ability to thrive.
Status and Protection
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently classifies the frilled lizard as a species of Least Concern due to its wide geographic range and generally stable population numbers. Despite this overall assessment, localized populations are subject to increasing pressure from changes to their specialized habitat.
Habitat destruction represents a significant threat, primarily through land clearing for agricultural purposes and human development, which fragments the necessary savanna woodlands. The increased frequency and intensity of large-scale bushfires also destroy the essential tree canopy, eliminating the arboreal structures the lizards rely on for safety and foraging. Predation by introduced species, particularly feral cats, is a localized factor that contributes to population declines in certain areas.