What Is a Bearded Dragon's Natural Habitat?

The bearded dragon originates in Australia, where temperatures and climate vary drastically depending on time of year and rainfall. Northern Australia is tropical, with rain forests and mild temperatures, but 80 percent of Australia is dry with very little rainfall. Both the southeastern and southwestern corners of the continent experience temperate climate conditions, however.

  1. Central Bearded Dragons

    • Most bearded dragons in the pet trade originate in central Australia.

      Along the south-central coast near Adelaide lives the inland bearded dragon, also known as the central bearded dragon. These lizards are used to a wide variety of habitats, including desert, arid forests and scrub land. They eat flowers, shoots, insects and soft leaves. This bearded dragon is the most common in the pet trade and varies in size and color.

    Lawson's Bearded Dragon

    • Bearded dragons are among the tamest of all lizards.

      Lawson's bearded dragon, also known as Rankin's bearded dragon, is one of the smaller of the bearded dragons in the pet trade. They have smaller beards than other bearded dragons. They live in Queensland, in northeastern Australia, and less commonly in the Northern Territories.

    The Small-Scaled Bearded Dragon

    • The Kimberly is a very small area in northwestern Australia.

      The Drydale River bearded dragon, also known as the small-scaled bearded dragon, has fewer spikes on ts neck and throat compared with most other bearded dragons. It lives in the Kimberly, a small area in northwestern Australia. The area consists of open woodland, and there are perfect hiding places for this species among grasses and low-lying shrubs,

    Smallest of the Bearded Dragons

    • During the hottest part of the day, the bearded dragon hides so to not overheat.

      The dwarf bearded dragon lives in a variety of habitats, including desert and forest regions throughout western and central Australia. It is small compared with other bearded dragons and is not found in the pet trade. It looks similar to the western bearded dragon, but its short tail and smaller limbs give it a slightly different appearance.

      The Great Sandy Desert in northwestern Australia is home to the Pogona mitchelli. This bearded dragon is quite small and measures approximately 5 1/2 inches long.

    The Western Bearded Dragon

    • Bearded dragons are attracted to open, warm areas.

      The Western bearded dragon lives in a variety of habitats in southwestern Australia and makes its home in desert, woodlands and coastal dunes. This lizard is often seen on roadways and is known to bask in sunny places.

    Pogona Nullarbor

    • The Pogona nullarbor is a medium-sized bearded dragon and lives in a small area of south-central Australia in steep cliffs along the coast. It can also be found in caves. It has distinctive white bands on its back and three to seven rows of spines along the sides of its body. These bearded dragons are not available in pet stores.