Amphibolurus is a genus of lizards in the family Agamidae. The genus is endemic to Australia.

Description

Characteristics of the genus Amphibolurus include:

  • Moderate size [snout–vent length ]
  • Long limbs and long tail
  • One to five crests consisting of enlarged, sometimes spinose scales (one nuchal and vertebral crest, sometime one or two dorsal crests on each side)
  • Tympanum exposed
  • One to 11 femoral pores and one to three preanal pores on each side
  • Pattern usually includes three broad pale dorsal stripes and some blotches on a usually brown ground coloration
  • Different from the similar species Lophognathus and Gowidon due to more heterogeneous arrangement of scales. They also differ from Gowidon due to more dorsal rows of enlarged, spinose scales.

Habitat

Amphibolurus lizards inhabit open forests, woodlands, and the vegetation around watercourses in southern, eastern, and central Australia.

  • Amphibolurus burnsi – Burn's dragon
  • Amphibolurus centralis – Centralian lashtail
  • Amphibolurus muricatus – jacky dragon
  • Amphibolurus norrisi – Mallee Heath lashtail

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Amphibolurus.

References

Further reading