| Caimanops (genus) Mulga Dragon (species) |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Subfamily: | Agaminae |
| Genus: | Caimanops Cogger, 1983 |
| Species: | C. amphiboluroides |
| Binomial name | |
| Caimanops amphiboluroides (Lucas & Frost, 1902)[1] |
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| Synonyms | |
|
Diporiphora amphiboluroides |
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The Mulga Dragon (Caimanops amphiboluroides) is a species of agamid lizard found in Western Australia. It is the sole member of the genus Caimanops, whose name is derived from the crocodile-like shape of the jaw. The species is up to 250 mm long, the length from snout to vent is 95 mm, with a long slender tail that ends abruptly. The patterning over the legs and body is grey and brownish streaks. This provides an excellent camouflage on Mulga trees, its usual habitat, it is also found beneath the leaf litter of these. Caimanops amphiboluroides generally remain motionless and unobserved, this allows it to operate as an ambush predator and elude animals that would prey on it.[2]
It resembles another Western Australian species, the Bearded Dragon (Pogona minor).