THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF AUSTRALIA - DRAGONS (AGAMAS)

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

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SOUTHERN TAWNY DRAGON
Ctenophorus decresii
This species grows to around 23cm (9")

This male Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Waterfall Gully near Adelaide, South Australia

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

Southern Tawny Dragons (Ctenophorus decresii) and Northern Tawny Dragon or Swift Dragons (Ctenophorus modestus) which were previously considered to be Ctenophorus decresii 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.
This male Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Waterfall Gully near Adelaide, South Australia

This Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

This Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Rockleigh, SA

This Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Rockleigh, SA

This Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Rockleigh, SA

These adult Tawny Dragons (Ctenophorus decresii) found together under some debris, were photographed at Rockleigh, SA

This Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Rockleigh, SA

Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) photographed at Rockleigh, SA

This Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Rockleigh, SA

This Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from the Cherry Gardens area near Adelaide, South Australia

This sub-adult Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from Cherry Gardens in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

This juvenile Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from Cherry Gardens in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

This baby Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from Anstey Hill in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

This juvenile Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from Anstey Hill in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

This juvenile Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from Anstey Hill in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

Adult male Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) photographed at Cherry Gardens in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

This juvenile Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from Anstey Hill in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

Subadult male Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) photographed at Cherry Gardens in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

Subadult male Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) photographed at Cherry Gardens in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

Subadult male Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) photographed at Cherry Gardens in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

This juvenile Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Cherry Gardens, near Adelaide, South Australia

Southern Tawny Dragons (Ctenophorus decresii) may also be confused with the following species:-

LINKS OF INTEREST

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

Click here for more information about Australian Dragons (Agamas)

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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

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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)

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

PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE

Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) photographed at Rockleigh, SA This Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Rockleigh, SA This Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from the Cherry Gardens area near Adelaide, South Australia

This sub-adult Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from Cherry Gardens in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

This juvenile Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from Cherry Gardens in the Mt. Lofty Ranges near Adelaide, South Australia

COMMON NAME

SCIENTIFIC NAME

DISTRIBUTION

Ctenophorus modestus (split from C. decresii)

SA (Flinders Ranges)

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 17, 2025

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

Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) photographed at Rockleigh, SA

This Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) was photographed at Rockleigh, SA

This Southern Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) is from the Cherry Gardens area near Adelaide, South Australia

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)