Frilled Lizard
Chlamydosaurus kingii
Quick answer
The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened. It grows up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long including the tail and weighs around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). When alarmed on the ground it sprints away on its hind legs, and it can live 10 to 20 years.
Frilled Lizard facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Chlamydosaurus kingii |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore (mainly insects) |
| Habitat | Tropical woodlands and dry forest |
| Lifespan | 10–20 years |
| Length | Up to 0.9 m (3 ft) including tail |
| Weight | About 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Agamidae |
| Genus | Chlamydosaurus |
Where it lives
Tropical and warm-temperate woodlands of northern Australia and southern New Guinea.
What is a group of frilled lizards called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Frilled Lizards is called a lounge.
Baby name
A baby Frilled Lizard is called a hatchling.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
The famous frill and its bluff
The frill is a fold of skin supported by long rods of cartilage attached to the jaw. Normally it lies flat against the shoulders, but when the lizard opens its mouth the frill springs out into a disc that can be up to 30 cm across. Combined with hissing, gaping, and tail-lashing, this display makes the animal look far larger and more dangerous than it really is. The bluff is meant to startle a predator long enough for the lizard to escape.
Running on two legs
If the display fails, the frilled lizard turns and flees in a way few reptiles can match. It rears up and runs on its hind legs alone, tail held out for balance, in a comical upright sprint toward the nearest tree. This bipedal dash can reach around 30 km/h over short distances. Once it reaches a trunk it scrambles up and freezes against the bark, where its grey-brown colouring blends in.
Life in the trees
Frilled lizards are strongly arboreal and spend most of the day clinging to trunks and branches in tropical woodland and dry forest. From this vantage point they watch the ground for movement and drop down to snatch prey. They are ambush hunters that stay motionless for long stretches, relying on camouflage rather than active searching. Height also keeps them clear of many ground predators.
Diet and feeding
This lizard is a carnivore that feeds mainly on insects. Cicadas, beetles, ants, termites, and spiders make up the bulk of its diet, and larger individuals will also take small lizards and the occasional small mammal. It hunts by sitting still and ambushing anything that wanders within reach. Feeding activity rises sharply in the wet season, when insect numbers explode.
Seasons and breeding
Northern Australia's climate swings between a hot wet season and a long dry season, and the frilled lizard's year is built around it. The animals are most active and breed during the wet, when food is abundant, and become far more sluggish and secretive through the dry months. Females lay clutches of roughly 8 to 23 eggs in shallow nests dug into soft soil. The eggs hatch after two to three months, and hatchlings are independent from birth.
Conservation status
The frilled lizard is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains widespread across its northern Australian and New Guinean range. The main pressures it faces are habitat clearance, wildfire, and predation by introduced cats and foxes. It is also collected for the exotic pet trade, though wild populations are currently considered stable. Healthy tree cover is the single most important thing for its long-term survival.
Dig deeper into the Frilled Lizard
- Frilled Lizard Guide 5
Dig deeper into frilled lizard — frilled lizard guide 5.
- How Fast Is A Frilled Lizard
Dig deeper into frilled lizard — how fast is a frilled lizard.
- How Long do Frilled Lizard Live?
Dig deeper into frilled lizard — how long do frilled lizard live.
- What do Frilled Lizard Eat
Dig deeper into frilled lizard — what do frilled lizard eat.
- Where do Frilled Lizard Live?
Dig deeper into frilled lizard — where do frilled lizard live.
Explore the Frilled Lizard
Related Reptiles
Range & geography
Did you know? Frilled Lizard facts
- The frilled lizard is a tree-dwelling lizard of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the large frill of skin around its neck.
- The frill is mainly a defense. When the lizard flares it along with a gaping mouth and hiss, it suddenly looks much larger and more threatening, often startling a predator long enough to escape.
- Frilled lizards are carnivores that eat mostly insects such as beetles, ants, and cicadas, plus spiders and small lizards. They hunt by watching from a tree and darting to grab prey.
- Yes. When fleeing, frilled lizards often rise up and sprint on their hind legs, a distinctive upright dash that helps them reach the safety of a tree quickly.
- Frilled lizards grow up to about 90 cm (3 ft) in total length, with the tail making up most of that. Males are generally larger than females.
- Conservation: Least Concern (IUCN).
Diet & feeding
Frilled Lizard feeds primarily as a carnivore (mainly insects). Frilled lizards are carnivores that feed mainly on insects such as beetles, ants, termites, and cicadas, along with spiders and small lizards. They hunt by sitting and watching from a tree trunk, then darting down to snatch prey. They are most active and f
Adaptations
- The frilled lizard spends most of its time in trees, where its grey-brown coloring keeps it camouflaged against bark. When alarmed it drops to the ground, raises the brightly colored frill, opens its mouth, and hisses to startle a predator. If the bluff fails it sprints away on its hind legs in a comical upright run, sometimes called bicycle-running.
- Frilled lizards are carnivores that feed mainly on insects such as beetles, ants, termites, and cicadas, along with spiders and small lizards. They hunt by sitting and watching from a tree trunk, then darting down to snatch prey. They are most active and feed most heavily during the warm, wet season.
Behaviour & ecology
- The frilled lizard spends most of its time in trees, where its grey-brown coloring keeps it camouflaged against bark. When alarmed it drops to the ground, raises the brightly colored frill, opens its mouth, and hisses to startle a predator. If the bluff fails it sprints away on its hind legs in a comical upright run, sometimes called bicycle-running.
- Frilled lizards are carnivores that feed mainly on insects such as beetles, ants, termites, and cicadas, along with spiders and small lizards. They hunt by sitting and watching from a tree trunk, then darting down to snatch prey. They are most active and feed most heavily during the warm, wet season.
- This species lives in the tropical and warm-temperate woodlands and dry forests of northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It favors areas with scattered trees that offer both basking spots and cover. During the dry season frilled lizards become far less active and may remain high in the trees, conserving energy.
Communication
- Scent marking, body posture, and head-bobbing or tail signals communicate threat and dominance.
- Vocalisations are limited in many reptiles but hissing or bellowing occurs in some groups.
Habitat & range
Tropical woodlands and dry forest
Ecological role
Frilled Lizard acts as a predator that helps regulate prey populations and maintain balance in tropical woodlands and dry forest.
Conservation status of the Frilled Lizard
Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is assessed on the IUCN Red List. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Frilled Lizard
Why does the frilled lizard have a frill?
The frill is a defensive bluff. When a predator approaches, the lizard opens its mouth and flares the frill into a wide disc, making itself look much bigger and scarier so the attacker hesitates. It is not used for feeding and has no venom behind it.
Can a frilled lizard really run on two legs?
Yes. When it flees on open ground the frilled lizard rears up and runs on its hind legs alone, holding its tail out for balance. This upright bipedal sprint carries it quickly to the nearest tree, where it climbs to safety.
How big does a frilled lizard get?
A frilled lizard reaches up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) in total length, though most of that is its long tail. Body weight is only around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb), so it is a lightly built, agile climber rather than a heavy reptile.
What do frilled lizards eat?
Frilled lizards are carnivores that eat mostly insects, including cicadas, beetles, ants, termites, and spiders. Larger individuals also take small lizards and occasionally small mammals. They hunt by ambush, staying still and grabbing prey that passes close by.
Are frilled lizards dangerous to humans?
No. Despite the dramatic threat display, frilled lizards are harmless to people. They have no venom, and a large one can deliver only a mild bite if handled. Their whole strategy is to frighten enemies off rather than to fight.
How long do frilled lizards live?
Frilled lizards typically live between 10 and 20 years. Lifespan depends heavily on avoiding predators such as birds of prey, snakes, and introduced cats and foxes, especially while young and small.
What is a group of frilled lizards called?
A group of Frilled Lizards is called a lounge.
What is a baby frilled lizard called?
A baby Frilled Lizard is called a hatchling.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Frilled Lizard:
-
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Chlamydosaurus kingii.
- IUCN Red List — Chlamydosaurus kingii.
Conservation status (Least Concern) and population trends.
- Animal Diversity Web — Chlamydosaurus kingii. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Life history, morphology, and range.
- Wikipedia — Frilled Lizard.
General taxonomy and overview (cross-check primary sources).
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