Eastern Water Dragons

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=95 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="21a8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>SOFAR</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SOFAR"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thicktail gecko"><U>Thick-tail gecko</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Northern LeafTail Gecko"><U>Northern Leaf-Tail Gecko</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Southern Angleheaded Dragon"><U>Southern Angle-headed Dragon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastern Water Skink"><U>Eastern Water Skink</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id151.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Northern Blue Tongue Skink"><U>Northern Blue Tongue Skink</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id153.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastern Bluetongue skink"><U>Eastern Blue-tongue skink</U></A>   |   <B>Eastern Water Dragons</B>   |   <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Eastern Bearded Dragon"><U>Eastern Bearded Dragon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shingleback lizard"><U>Shingleback lizard</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id177.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Central Bearded Dragon"><U>Central Bearded Dragon</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="21a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Eastern Water Dragons</I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="753" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#003300" BORDERCOLORDARK="#006633" FRAME="BOX" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 25 ><NOBR><div> <I><B>Common Name:</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT>Eastern Water dragon</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=6><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="34f55440.jpg" border=0 width="341" height="324" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> <I><B>Scientific Name: </B></I>Physignathus lesueurii</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP ROWSPAN=4 HEIGHT= 1 WIDTH="376"><div> <I><B>General characteristics: </B></I>This lizard is found around margins of creeks, rivers and lakes, usually seen on rocks, logs or overhanging branches.  The Eastern Water Dragon can swim strongly by keeping its limbs by its side and moving its tail from side to side. It can also remain submerged for over one hour.  A semi-aquatic arboreal lizard.  Will take to the water when alarmed.  They lay one or more clutches of 6-20 soft-shelled eggs (about 28 mm long) in late spring and early summer in a burrow and then covers it with soil and leaves.  Hatchlings are about 15 cm long and emerge about 80-100 days later.  They mature in their second year and may live to 28 years of age.  This species is the largest of the Australian dragons. They grow to 1 metre in length. </div> <div> <I><B>Diet:</B></I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT>Crustaceans as well as small fish, hatchling turtles, mice, small lizards, berries, fruit, flowers, frogs, worms and insects. </div> <div> <I><B>Habitat: </B></I>Includes the coast and ranges and eastern Australia between Cairns and Cooktown (QLD) and Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales.  Virtually all semi-permanent aquatic habitats.</div> <div> <I><B>Status:</B></I> Secure</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> </tR> <tR> </tR> <tR> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page updated 7 April 2007</div> </td> </tr></table></body>