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Ochre Dragon facts for kids

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Ochre Dragon
Ctenophorus tjantjalka distribution.png
Ctenophorus tjantjalka habitats
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Genus:
Ctenophorus
Species:
tjantjalka

The Ochre Dragon (scientific name: Ctenophorus tjantjalka) is a cool type of lizard. It lives in the dry, rocky parts of South Australia. You can find it on low, crumbly hills and stony areas. These special lizards live from the Painted Hills all the way up to the Everard Ranges.

What is the Ochre Dragon?

The Ochre Dragon is a kind of agamid lizard. This means it's part of a family of lizards often called "dragons" because of their spiky looks. It's also known as a "saxicolous ecomorph," which just means it's a lizard that loves living among rocks! Scientists group living things to understand them better. This system is called taxonomy. The Ochre Dragon belongs to a special group of lizards called the Ctenophorus decresii group.

Scientific Classification of the Ochre Dragon

Scientists use a special way to classify all living things. This helps them understand how different animals are related. Here's how the Ochre Dragon fits in:

Scientific Classification
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Suborder Iguana
Family Agamidae
Genus Ctenophorus
Species C. tjantjalka

Appearance of the Ochre Dragon

The Ochre Dragon is a strong, medium-sized lizard. It has a special look that helps tell it apart from other lizards. Its snout (nose area) is quite short, about 73 millimeters long. Unlike some other lizards, its tail doesn't have stripes or bands. It also has a special ridge, called a vertebral keel, running down its back. The lizard's body is a bit flat, and its front legs are quite big compared to its body.

Male and Female Ochre Dragons

Male and female Ochre Dragons have different colors on their backs. This is called "sexual dimorphism." Male Ochre Dragons are usually a light blue color. They also have salmon-colored patches on their sides. Their tails do not have dark bands. Female Ochre Dragons, however, have pale spots on their bodies.

Where Ochre Dragons Live

The Ochre Dragon lives in the dry, inner parts of South Australia. You can find them in a wide area. This area stretches from the Indulkana Range and Oodnadatta in the north. It goes down to Coober Pedy and Davenport Range in the south.

These lizards are always found in or very close to rocky places. Their physical features and how they act depend on their specific rocky homes.

What Ochre Dragons Eat

Ochre Dragons mostly eat ants. Ants make up a big part of their diet in the dry areas where they live. But they also enjoy other insects and small creatures. These include grasshoppers, termites, and beetles. They might also eat scorpions, spiders, and wasps in smaller amounts.

Who Eats the Ochre Dragon?

Like many animals, Ochre Dragons have predators. These are animals that hunt and eat them. Some common predators of the Ochre Dragon include:

  • Brown falcons
  • Australian Kestrels
  • Bustards
  • Large snakes
  • Monitor lizards
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