Chlamydosaurus kingii

Frilled Lizard

A folded frill can be just as interesting as an open one.

Reference photo, not the individual on display. Credits appear below.

Care commitment Plan for adult size

Habitat Branches & cover

Visiting Watch quietly

Meet your new acquaintance

Nickname Folded Frill

Diurnal; often rests on tree trunks

Opening the frill is often a defensive or display behaviour. Folded edges and a body held against a tree trunk reveal a quieter side of its life.

Species stories

An Australian dragon that fitted in a pocket

In 1966 Australia’s decimal two-cent coin gave the frilled lizard a place in everyday pockets. Stuart Devlin’s design used the expanded frill as a recognisable wildlife outline.

A tiny coin favours a distinctive silhouette, so many people first encountered the animal’s dramatic display rather than its usual folded-frill posture.

The coin later left circulation, but real lizards complete what a symbol cannot show: trunk-clinging feet, quiet rest and an ordinary life beyond the iconic pose.

Story sources:

Royal Australian Mint · Two Cents

At a glance

Frilled lizards come from northern Australia and southern New Guinea. They often rest on trunks and descend to hunt insects by day. With the frill folded and the body against bark, the animal looks much quieter than its familiar open-frill portrait.

The trunk connects resting and hunting. Folded neck skin and bark-like patterning make the animal less conspicuous, while strong hind limbs allow rapid escape.

Frill expansion enlarges its outline during defence or display, but feeding, temperature choices and egg-laying continue beyond that spectacular moment. Small movements around a trunk reveal the ordinary life behind the famous portrait.

Common names Frilled Lizard; Chlamydosaurus kingii

Scientific name Chlamydosaurus kingii

Native rangeNorthern Australia and southern New Guinea

Adult sizeAbout 60–90 cm total length

ActivityDiurnal; often rests on tree trunks

Diet Use varied, appropriately sized, gut-loaded insects. Coordinate calcium and vitamins with age, body condition and lighting; fatty insects or small vertebrates should not dominate the diet.

Habitat & care

Provide tall trunks, vertical climbing surfaces, UVB, local basking and cover. Let it choose whether to remain exposed.

Values guide routine care, not breeding or brumation. Dimensions are length × width × height for one adult unless stated otherwise; larger animals need more space.

TemperatureBasking surface About 40°C JZAR reference: daytime air about 30°C, night 25–27°C. Retain cooler retreats and safe clearance above the frill.

HumidityAbout 70% Measure mid-enclosure away from mist outlets; let leaves dry between mistings and maintain airflow.

LightingUVB & shade Choose UVB intensity and distance for the species, with a fully shaded retreat.

Space150×90×180 cm Recommended starting size; connect climbing routes at different heights, add cover and allow safe lamp clearance.

Look a little closer

Where does the folded frill go? Follow the folded edges beside the head toward the shoulders. At rest, compare limb contacts and tail position against the trunk. When it moves around the trunk, follow the order in which head, forefeet and hind feet change position.

Care note: Do not chase or frighten it to obtain an open-frill photograph.

About this profile

Size ranges are reference values; sex, origin and age affect appearance.

Profile status: Reference profile · Reviewed 2026-10-20

References (6)

Photo: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_frilled_lizard_(Chlamydosaurus_kingii).jpg CC BY 4.0 · Original image, credit and licence

Behaviour notes describe the species, not a promise about every individual. These care notes introduce its needs; ask our team about the animal on display and any supervised encounters.