Rankin's dragon
| Rankin's dragon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specimen at Diergaarde Blijdorp | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Pogona |
| Species: | P. henrylawsoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Pogona henrylawsoni Wells and Wellington[1] | |
Rankin's dragon (Pogona henrylawsoni) is an agamid lizard similar to the larger central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), but this dragon is usually less than 30 cm (12 in) in length. This species is also called Lawson's dragon, dumpy dragon, pygmy dragon, dwarf bearded dragon, or black soil bearded dragon.[2] It is native to Queensland in Australia.
A formal description was not published for this dragon until 1985, despite being known to herpetologists. The name for this species was disputed, along with the other taxonomic treatments of Wells and Wellington,[3] but was published again by Harold Cogger (2000) and others as a valid name.[4]
The name is noted as invalid in some sources, and given as a synonym for Pogona brevis.[5]
These dragons have a life span of six to eight years, and their natural environment is hot, dry and rocky, which must be mimicked in captivity. They are a social species and with supervision can be handled by children, but do not like to be turned upside down and will struggle when they are. Most creatures in captivity are descendants of dragons illegally imported in the 1980s. The specific epithet is a reference to the Australian author Henry Lawson.
References
- ↑ Wells, R. W. and Wellington, C. R. 1985. A classification of the Amphibia and Reptilia of Australia. Australian Journal of Herpetology, Supplementary Series, (1):1-61.
- ↑ Pogona henrylawsoni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
- ↑ Raymond Hoser (June 1997). "Pogona - From an Australian Perspective.". Author's website.
paper from REPTILIAN MAGAZINE (UK), 5 (2), , pp. 27-41 (Online version)
- ↑ Cogger,H.G. 2000. Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, 6th ed. Ralph Curtis Publishing, Sanibel Island cite
- ↑ Witten G J 1994. Taxonomy of Pogona (Reptilia: Lacertilia: Agamidae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 37(1): 329-343