Why Are Bearded Dragons Called Bearded Dragons?
As to why this thorny lizard is called a dragon is still a mystery. Some speculate that the bearded dragon was a descendent of some dragons that, over time, lost their large talons, large size, fire-breath, ability to fly, skills, and magic. This theory, however, is still highly controversial. If this is indeed the case, then the bearded dragon is about as much of a true dragon as a bird is a dinosaur. Do you see my point?
At any rate, although no one is really sure why these lizards have earned the title "dragon" as opposed to "somewhat large lizard," the "beard" part of their name is clear and understandable in its origins. The bearded dragon gets its name from the fact that it can enlarge or puff out a flap of skin under its lower jaw when it is experiencing anxiety. The Central or Inland Bearded Dragon (or Pogona vitticeps in Latin), is a type of agamid lizard found in the deserts of Australia. If you don't feel like going all the way to Australia to find one, you can probably spot one in your local pet store.
Bearded dragons do not eat humans. In fact, their calm and easygoing demeanor makes them very friendly to humans and candidates for friends or pets, even if you found one in the wild. If you do decide to take one home as a pet, I advise you not to put it in the same cage as your pet cricket (a bearded dragon will always win against a cricket in a fight, and most likely eat it - sometimes this happens even before the cricket can get a punch in).
Although they do eat crickets, mealworms1 and other insects, bearded dragons are omnivorous, and will eat salads, fruits, and flowers also. A pet dragon should not be fed insects from your back yard, as the insects might be laced with pesticides, which are toxic to your bearded buddy. Also, never feed fireflies to a bearded dragon, or any other lizard for that matter. They are highly toxic, and will kill most lizards (with the exception of real dragons, which are immune to the effects of fireflies due to magic). You can feed bearded dragons vegetables such as collard greens, turnip tops, and other leafy greens, with the exception of iceberg lettuce and spinach, as they inhibit the absorption of certain key nutrients. To keep your dragon in tip top shape, you can give it supplements like calcium made from powdered oyster shells.
When the bearded dragon reaches one or two years of age, it is ready to mate with other dragons and have kids (apparently bearded dragons mature much faster than humans). Female dragons lay anywhere between eleven and sixteen eggs in the early summer, and will leave them in nests in sandy soil. Her dragon babies will hatch 3 months later.
If you want to know more about bearded dragons, call your local pet store, or buy a book from a reputable source. Or talk to someone who had befriended one of the little beasties and knows their kith and kin.
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