Chinese Water Dragon Facts

Chinese water dragons are large lizards native to southeast Asia. They are members of the agamidae family of lizards along with over 300 other species. Agamids are all tropical lizards with well-developed limbs and can be varied in appearance. People often keep water dragons as exotic pets.

  1. Description

    • Male Chinese water dragons are larger than females and grow to almost 3 feet in length, of which 70 percent is made up of their tails. The lizards are generally dark green in color with males being a more vivid shade than females. Males also have a larger head than females and a more pronounced spiny crest along the back of the neck and spine. A bright orange to yellow area is present on the throats of males as well. The tail of both sexes has thin brownish bands running most of the length.

    Habitat and Range

    • In the wild, the water dragon is found in Thailand, Vietnam, Burma. Laos, Cambodia and southern China. The preferred habitat for the lizard is close to a permanent water source in tropical forests or swamps. It is most commonly found in regions that have an average yearly humidity of 60 to 80 percent and temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The water dragon is good at both climbing and swimming, using its powerful, well-developed legs.

    Diet

    • The water dragon eats small amounts of plant matter, but it's mainly a carnivore. Its diet consists of small rodents, birds, insects and other small invertebrates. It also sometimes raids the nests of some birds for their eggs.

    Predator Defense

    • The only defense the water dragon has against predators, other than camouflage, is escape. On the ground the lizard can quickly flee into the trees, climbing rapidly. With no tree present, the lizard can run fast using its powerful hind legs in a two-legged running gait. If evading a predator in the trees, the lizard can leap into nearby water and swim rapidly away.

    Life Cycle

    • The lizards sometimes live in small groups with a single dominant male and a few females. While mating, the male bites the female's crest at the back of her neck to hold her in place. The female lays 6 to 15 eggs in a clutch which hatch after 60 to 75 days. Young ones are almost 6 inches in length at birth and have to fend for themselves. The Chinese water dragon in the wild lives for around 15 years.