Species: Agamidae (Amphibolurus)

Use: General 

Authors: Charles C. Carpenter, Judy A. Badham and Bill Kimble

Methods: N/a

Publications/Presentations: Charles C. Carpenter, Judy A. Badham and Bill Kimble (1970). Behavior Patterns of Three Species of Amphibolurus (Agamidae). Copeia, No.3.

Behavior: Amphibolurus barbatus (Bearded dragon)

Display: The display of the bearded dragon primarily involved a series of movements of the head and neck (head bobs). These displays varied in intensity, those of low intensity were called assertion displays and those of high intensity challenge displays. The number of movements in the challenge displays was greater.

Dominance: The social structure of these six lizards was based upon the activity of the dominant. The dominant was the most active lizard of the group. He accounted for the majority of the displays observed, and he attacked and chased the others. Darkening of the color of the gular area, tip of tail and patches over the shoulder, though seen in many individuals, was most commonly associated with the dominant.

Subordination: Frequently the dominant, after circling in front of a particular subordinate, would mount this individual and bite at the small spiny scale patches above the shoulder region or at the spiny scales around the auricular area. Circumduction was the most striking and commonly observed manifestation of subordination behavior in A. barbatus. When circumducting, a subordinate raised and rotated one of his forelegs in a full 360° circle along a plane running perpendicular to a line running parallel to the long axis of the body.

Encounter: The following is the description of an encounter between a former dominant (removed) and a new dominant.  The former dominant had been isolated (in another enclosure) for four days and was placed in the enclosure during the peak of morning activity. This encounter lasted 45 minutes.

Behavior: Amphibolurus reticulatus inermis (Central Netted Lizard)

Dominance: Social behavior was apparent in certain individuals within a few hours after these lizards were released in their enclosure. Aggression appeared in the form of displays and chases. Within two days a dominant (male) had established himself on a central log and pile of cement blocks from which he  displayed frequently, directing his displays and chases at other males which came close to the area.

Display: The dominant individual accounted for the great majority of displays performed in any one day. Most of these displays were assertion type, that is, he performed the typical display-action-pattern, but did not posture as he did when performing a challenge display.

Behavior: Amphiolurus muricatus (Tree dragon)

Dominance: When four adults (two males and two females) and two juveniles were placed in the enclosure, one male assumed dominance within 24 hours and continued as dominant throughout the two months of summer observations. This male, the largest individual, accounted for the great majority of all displays observed and appeared to claim the entire enclosure as his territory. He moved to all parts of the enclosure in performing displays. The other conspecific lizards present either avoided his presence or performed subordinate types of behavior.

Display: The dominant male A. muricatus displayed from raised sites, such as the top of a cement block pile, on the side or at the pinnacle of stobs of logs and stumps, but only rarely on the ground. He performed both in the vertical and horizontal position, but usually with the head up in the vertical position.

Subordination: Subordination behavior appeared as avoidance of the dominant, circumduction and head-bowing. Often in the presence of the male an adult female slowly lowered and raised her head. Since this never was observed to initiate any reproductive interest in the male, it was assumed to represent subordination or perhaps rejection of the male by this female.