A Guide to the 8 Species of Bearded Dragon in Australia

Reptiles native to Australia, bearded dragons can now be found all over the world. They are commonly kept as pets and have been successfully bred in captivity for over 40 years. There are 8 species of bearded dragon, however not all are kept as pets and some have never been exported outside of Australia. Due to protection laws they likely once were, therefore unique to the deserts and forests of Australia. Below is a schematic of each species. For abbreviation purposes, I will use ‘BD’ when referring to the bearded dragon.

East BD
It can grow up to 2 feet long, making it one of the largest species. They live along the east coast of Australia (you might have guessed it from the name) in forests and thickets. Due to their distribution in populated areas of Australia, they are often injured or killed on the roads. This is increased by their tendency to sunbathe on the roads, a technique they use to regulate their body temperature.

Drysdale River BD
This is another type of bearded dragon unique to Australia. In fact, they can only be found in Drysdale River National Park. This park is located in the Kimberly region of Australia’s westernmost state. Because they are so rare, many tourists and enthusiasts visit this region of Australia for a chance to see them up close and personal.

Western BD
As you may have noticed from the name, this species is only found in Western Australia. They grow up to about 20 inches long and live among forests and coastal dunes. This type of bearded dragon can be found abroad in the pet trade.

Interior BD
Also known as the central bearded dragon because they are found throughout the central regions of the Australian desert, this species is the largest and most common in the pet trade. Due to their popularity, they can be found in literally large numbers all over the world.

Lawson’s BD
Found naturally in the very hot and very dry regions of the Australian outback, this species is actually declining in numbers in the pet trade due to being difficult to breed. They grow to an average length of about 10 inches.

Nullabor BD
This is a fairly small species that is not available anywhere else in the world, making it unique in Australia. They can be found in Western Australia on the Nullabor Plain and grow to only 8 to 10 inches long.

Dwarf bd
This species of dragon, which grows between 20 and 25 cm (8 to 10 inches) long, has many of the same characteristics of the western beardie, making them similar in appearance. However, this species is distributed throughout most of Australia, from the west to southern Australia and the Northern Territory.

Mitchell BD
Of the 8 species of bearded dragon, this is the smallest of all, reaching a maximum length of about 8 inches. Yes, quite miniature compared to the 2ft oriental beardie! But sadly, they cannot be found abroad. They live in deserts and forested areas of northwestern Australia.

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