Pigeon dragon
Pigeon dragon | ||||||||||||
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Pigeon dragon ( Tympanocryptis tetraporophora ) |
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Systematics | ||||||||||||
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Scientific name | ||||||||||||
Tympanocryptis tetraporophora | ||||||||||||
Lucas & Frost , 1895 |
The pigeon dragon ( Tympanocryptis tetraporophora ) is a species of scale reptiles from the agam family (Agamidae). It belongs to the genus Tympanocryptis .
Appearance
The pigeon dragon reaches a total length of up to 14 centimeters. The tail makes up a little more than half the length. Tympanocryptis tetraporophora is characterized by the reddish brown color, the delicate limbs and possibly existing transverse ligaments, which are much more evident towards the tail. The underside of the animals is white to light beige. The eardrum is not exposed, which does not mean that Tympanocryptis tetraporophora is deaf, as the somewhat misleading name suggests.
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Gender recognition
- Males can be recognized by the thick base of the tail, in which the hemipenis is located.
- Females have rapidly thinning tails. The back of the head often turns gray during pregnancy.
habitat
Tympanocryptis tetraporophora, is native to Australia and mainly inhabits New South Wales, West Australia, Kimberley Division, Victoria, Queensland, Kimberley Division, South Australia and Northern Territory. The pigeon dragon is a semi-desert and steppe inhabitant . Temperatures there range from 25 ° to 50 ° C.
nutrition
The pigeon dragon is a hide hunter and feeds mainly on insects , rarely also on plant-based food. As steppe dwellers, they have a relatively high water requirement, which they can keep quite low due to their firm, scaly skin.
literature
- Thomas Ackermann, Peter Fritz: Australian Taubagamen Tympanocryptis tetraporophora. In: circular. Announcements from the agamen and iguanas working groups in the DGHT . Vol. 19, No. 1, 2006, ISSN 0949-0450 , pp. 17-28.
- Hans D. Müller: The Australian agame Tympanocryptis tetraporophora in the terrarium. In: Elaphe. NF Vol. 6, No. 4, 1998, ISSN 0943-2485 , pp. 2-6.