Southern Angle Headed Dragon
or Southern Forest Dragon
Lophosaurus (was Hypsilurus) spinipes
Picture of a wild caught adult male Southern Angle Headed Dragon Lophosaurusspinipes showing how large the Qld variety can grow
GENERAL
Southern Forest dragons Lophosaurusspinipes are particularly interesting and enjoyable to keep. Captive bred forest dragons adapt well to captivity, make good pets, breed easily, and are one of the few species of lizards that can be handled easily.
They are a rainforest species found from Southern Qld to Central New South Wales and can be either kept in a well planted aviary or an unheated terrarium except in areas that suffer extreme temperature variations.
FOOD
Moths, crickets mealworms, earthworms etc, preferably dusted or gut loaded with calcium or reptile supplement for about half of the feeds. They also eat fruit, particularly banana. we have found that the hatchlings usually do not start feeding for several days, but once they start feeding they will start growing rapidly.
SEXING
At several months of age the males tend to lose their juvenile patterning, whereas the females tend to get more patterning.
(Picture of one of our males Southern Qld variety)
BREEDING
Apparently they may breed at less than 1 year, although ours bred at about 18 months.
They usually lay between 3 to 7 eggs, and may lay at almost any time of year if conditions are suitable (warm). Ours usually have 2 to 3 clutches per year
Headshot of one of our females - (Southern Qld variety)
The female may dig shallow test burrows a day or so before she lays the eggs.
The eggs are likely to require temperatures much lower than normal reptile incubation temperatures. We are still experimenting with incubation but have hatched them at 24 degrees Celsius.
Special requirements.
They will easily overheat or dehydrate in summer. Ensure that the aviary or terrarium is kept cool.
They should be misted or sprayed with water from time to time, particularly in dry weather.
If several are kept together, ensure that they all get food otherwise some will not grow as fast as the others and will be intimidated by the larger dragons. Males fight in the breeding season and it may be advisable to separate the males at this time.
Special notes.
These lizards play dead and may look paralysed from time to time. This is normal cryptic behavior, do not discard dead animals until they start decomposing!