Ctenophorus modestus NORTHERN TAWNY DRAGON

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NORTHERN TAWNY DRAGON
or Swift Dragon
Ctenophorus modestus
Split from Ctenophorus decresii

This species grows to around 23cm (9")

Adult male Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Clare area South Australia

Approximate distribution of the Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) ORANGE and the Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) MAROON

Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Burra area South Australia:- Note that Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragons in this area have stripes on the throat which do not usually occur on Tawny Dragons (Ctenophorus decresii)

Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) Matt from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Adult male Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Clare area South Australia

Adult male Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Clare area South Australia

Female Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Aroona, in the Northern Flinders Ranges. South Australia

Female Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Aroona, in the Northern Flinders Ranges. South Australia.
This one has lost some of its tail in the past and has started to regrow it.

Baby Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Aroona, in the Northern Flinders Ranges. South Australia.

Juvenile Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Aroona, in the Northern Flinders Ranges. South Australia.

Female Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Aroona, in the Northern Flinders Ranges. South Australia.

Southern Tawny Dragons and Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragons are rock dwelling species. They normally either live in rock crevices or under rocks.
Mature males tend to be much more colorful than females or immature males.

The Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) may also be confused with the following species:-

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John Hollister (deceased 2023) Author of the Sweetwater, Texas Rattlesnake Roundup

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Reproduction or re-use of information or materials from this web site is strictly prohibited and against international law.
(NOTE:- No permission is needed to link to this web page)

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION Covering Australian Snakes, Lizards, Crocodiles, Turtles, and Amphibians

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Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Burra area South Australia:- Note that Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragons in this area have stripes on the throat which do not usually occur on Tawny Dragons (Ctenophorus decresii)

Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) Matt from Melbourne, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Adult male Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Clare area South Australia Adult male Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Clare area South Australia

Southern Tawny Dragons and Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragons are rock dwelling species. They normally either live in rock crevices or under rocks. Mature males tend to be much more colorful than females or immature males.

The Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) may also be confused with the following species:-

Common Name

Scientific Name

Distribution

Ctenophorus decresii

SA (Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island)

Ctenophorus mirrityana (split from C. decresii)

NSW

Ctenophorus fionni

SA

Ctenophorus vadnappa

SA

Ctenophorus pictus

NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic, WA

LINKS OF INTEREST Elevation of Divergent Color Polymorphic and Monomorphic Lizard Lineages (Squamata: Agamidae) to Species Level American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST Find a Random Species of Australian Reptile

AUSTRALIAN DRAGON SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY Dragons (Agamas) of South Australia Dragons (Agamas) of NSW Dragons (Agamas) of Qld Dragons (Agamas) of NT Dragons (Agamas) of WA Dragons (Agamas) of Victoria Dragons (Agamas) of ACT Dragons (Agamas) of Tasmania

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

MORE REPTILE SPECIES LISTS

About John Fowler | John Hollister (deceased 2023) | Report Faulty Link | Report an Error

Contact John Fowler Author of the Australian Herpetology Website

John Hollister (deceased 2023) Author of the Sweetwater, Texas Rattlesnake Roundup

©2025 John Fowler, Rachel Barnes and the late John Hollister. All rights reserved. Reproduction or re-use of information or materials from this web site is strictly prohibited and against international law. (NOTE:- No permission is needed to link to this web page)

Note Content (includes photos) by other contributors (See credits) cannot be used without their permission

Updated November 11, 2025

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AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
Covering Australian Snakes, Lizards, Crocodiles, Turtles, and Amphibians

Adult male Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Clare area South Australia

Adult male Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragon (Ctenophorus modestus) from Clare area South Australia

Southern Tawny Dragons and Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragons are rock dwelling species. They normally either live in rock crevices or under rocks.
Mature males tend to be much more colorful than females or immature males.

LINKS OF INTEREST

Elevation of Divergent Color Polymorphic and Monomorphic Lizard Lineages (Squamata: Agamidae) to Species Level
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists

OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST

F i n d a R a n d o m S p e c i e s o f A u s t r a l i a n R e p t i l e

AUSTRALIAN DRAGON SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

Dragons
(Agamas)
of South
Australia Dragons
(Agamas)
of NSW Dragons
(Agamas)
of Qld Dragons
(Agamas)
of NT Dragons
(Agamas)
of WA Dragons
(Agamas)
of Victoria Dragons
(Agamas)
of
ACT Dragons
(Agamas)
of
Tasmania

©2025 John Fowler, Rachel Barnes and the late John Hollister. All rights reserved.
Reproduction or re-use of information or materials from this web site is strictly prohibited and against international law.
(NOTE:- No permission is needed to link to this web page)