THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA - DRAGONS (AGAMAS)

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
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AUSTRALIAN WATER DRAGONS
(Intellagama lesueurii)
(were Physignathus lesueurii )

THE 2 SUBSPECIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN WATER DRAGON (Intellagama lesueurii) ARE LISTED BELOW

Note that there are a few populations of Water Dragons (Intellagama lesueurii) found in the Mt. Lofty Ranges, South Australia, which are believed to be feral.

There is also a feral population of Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) on the Yarra River in Victoria.

The two subspecies of the Australian Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) cross readily in captivity so should not be kept together. Besides being illegal to cross sub-species in some states, crosses may be hard to classify when juveniles, and adult crosses are not as colorful as either species. Apparently intergrades do occur naturally in the wild.

 

EASTERN WATER DRAGON
(Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii)
(was Physignathus lesueurii lesueurii)

Note that this is a subspecies of the AUSTRALIAN WATER DRAGON (Intellagama lesueurii)

This large (not captive) Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) was photographed at Sea World (Gold Coast, Qld)


This adult Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) was photographed at Baldwin Swamp, Bundaberg, Qld.


This adult Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) was photographed at Baldwin Swamp, Bundaberg, Qld.



This adult Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) was photographed in Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, Qld.

Photo above of an adult Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) was taken in Brisbane Qld.
Males tend to have more red on their chest/throat than females however if there are no males in an area the dominant female may take on male colouration



Photo above of an adult Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) taken at a cafe near Brisbane Qld

Captive male Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) note that this was a breeding male. Males usually have more red on their chest than females.

Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) Brisbane

 
Hatchling Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii)

Hatchlings are very small and are often thought to be a different species by the general public.

  
This wild Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) above was photographed at Kooralbyn Resort (SE Qld) and lived near the restaurant - Photo John Fowler

Adult Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) - Note the distinct black stripe which extends from the ear to the eye.

The Eastern Water Dragon is a very common species found in Eastern Australia. It is commonly kept as a pet and is very easy to breed, often having more than 1 clutch of eggs per year.

Females usually lay from 6 to 20 eggs per clutch which take from 70 to 120 days to hatch.

Adult Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii lesueurii) - Note the distinct Black stripe which extends from the ear to the eye.

The Eastern Water Dragon is a very common species found in Eastern Australia. It is commonly kept as a pet and is very easy to breed, often having more than 1 clutch of eggs per year.

Females usually lay from 6 to 20 eggs per clutch which take from 70 to 120 days to hatch.

In some regions they may have a lot of yellow colouration on them (On their throat or sides). However those are rarely seen in captivity and do not occur in many populated areas (there are very few photos online).

GIPPSLAND WATER DRAGON
(Intellagama lesueurii howittii)
(was Physignathus lesueurii howittii)

Note that this is a subspecies of the AUSTRALIAN WATER DRAGON (Intellagama lesueurii)

Photo above is of an Adult Gippsland Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii howitti) taken at the Canberra

Adult Gippsland Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii howitti) photographed on Black Mountain Peninsular (Lake Burley Griffin), ACT - Notice that it does not have a distinct black stripe behind its eye, but it does have a black marking behind its ear.



Gippsland Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii howitti) taken at the Abercrombie Caves, NSW

Photo above is of a captive Gippsland Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii howitti) taken at Gow's Reptile World (closed) Humpty Doo NT

Note that the Gippsland Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii howitti) is found in the Southern part of the range and lacks the distinct eye stripe, although they may have a fainter eye stripe and a black stripe behind their ear.

The two sub-species of the Australian Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii) cross readily in captivity so should not be kept together. Besides being illegal to cross sub-species in some states, crosses may be hard to classify when juveniles, and adult crosses are not as colorful as either species. Apparently intergrades do occur naturally in the wild.

This subadult Gippsland Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii howittii) was photographed at the Adelaide Zoo, South Australia. It has shed its skin on part of its tail exposing the new skin. Note that it does have a faint eye stripe.

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OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST

Find a Random Species of Australian Reptile

Visit the Australian Herpetology Website

Agamas of The World	Dragons (Agamas) of Australia

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

Reptiles of South Australia	Reptiles of Victoria	Reptiles of NSW	Reptiles of Qld	Reptiles of NT	Reptiles of WA	Reptiles of the ACT	Reptiles of Tasmania

MORE REPTILE SPECIES LISTS

Reptiles of Lord Howe Island	Reptiles of Christmas Island	Reptiles of Cocos Keeling Islands	Reptiles of Norfolk Island

Reptiles of Australia	Frogs of Australia	Reptiles of The World	Amphibians of the World

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Updated April 8, 2024

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