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Bicycle dragons
Ctenophorus - Fitzinger, 1848

Pronunciation: ten-OFF-or-uss
Etymology: 'comb-bearer', refering to the comb-like scales around the eyes.

Taxonomic notes:

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 32 out of 32 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: Laverton ring-tailed dragon (Ctenophorus infans) at cm
 Longest Australian species: western netted dragon (Ctenophorus reticulatus) at 10.8 cm
Number of Australian species: 32
 

western heath dragon (Ctenophorus adelaidensis)
Perth, Western Australia
Photo © David Fischer
western heath dragon (Ctenophorus adelaidensis) distribution range map Ctenophorus adelaidensis
Western heath dragon
Year described
(Gray 1841)
Description

Shark Bay heath dragon (Ctenophorus butleri)
Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Shark Bay heath dragon (Ctenophorus butleri) distribution range map Ctenophorus butleri
Shark Bay heath dragon
Year described
(Storr 1977)
Description

western ring-tailed dragon (Ctenophorus caudicinctus)
Tom Price region, Western Australia
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
western ring-tailed dragon (Ctenophorus caudicinctus) distribution range map Ctenophorus caudicinctus
Western ring-tailed dragon
Year described
(Günther 1875)
Description

eastern heath dragon (Ctenophorus chapmani)
Burnabbie, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
eastern heath dragon (Ctenophorus chapmani) distribution range map Ctenophorus chapmani
Eastern heath dragon
Year described
(Storr 1977)
Description

black-collared dragon (Ctenophorus clayi)
Simpson Desert, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
black-collared dragon (Ctenophorus clayi) distribution range map Ctenophorus clayi
Black-collared dragon
Year described
(Storr 1966)
Description

crested dragon (Ctenophorus cristatus)
Ghooli, Western Australia
Photo © Mark Sanders
crested dragon (Ctenophorus cristatus) distribution range map Ctenophorus cristatus
Crested dragon
Year described
(Gray 1841)
Description

tawny dragon (Ctenophorus decresii)
Burra, South Australia
Photo © Jordan de Jong
tawny dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) distribution range map Ctenophorus decresii
Tawny dragon
Year described
(Duméril & Bibron 1837)
Description

long-tailed sand-dragon (Ctenophorus femoralis)
Exmouth, Western Australia
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
long-tailed sand-dragon (Ctenophorus femoralis) distribution range map Ctenophorus femoralis
Long-tailed sand-dragon
Year described
(Storr 1965)
Description

Peninsula dragon (Ctenophorus fionni)
Captive animal
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
Peninsula dragon (Ctenophorus fionni) distribution range map Ctenophorus fionni
Peninsula dragon
Year described
(Proctor 1923)
Description

mallee military dragon (Ctenophorus fordi)
Hattah, Victoria
Photo © Mark Sanders
mallee military dragon (Ctenophorus fordi) distribution range map Ctenophorus fordi
Mallee military dragon
Year described
(Storr 1965)
Description

gibber dragon (Ctenophorus gibba)
Marree, South Australia
Photo © Rob Valentic
gibber dragon (Ctenophorus gibba) distribution range map Ctenophorus gibba
Gibber dragon
Year described
(Houston 1974)
Description

No thumbnail available Graaf's ring-tailed dragon (Ctenophorus graafi) distribution range map Ctenophorus graafi
Graaf's ring-tailed dragon
Year described
(Storr 1967)
Description

No thumbnail available Laverton ring-tailed dragon (Ctenophorus infans) distribution range map Ctenophorus infans
Laverton ring-tailed dragon
Year described
(Storr 1967)
Description

central military dragon (Ctenophorus isolepis)
Halls Creek, Western Australia
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
central military dragon (Ctenophorus isolepis) distribution range map Ctenophorus isolepis
Central military dragon
Year described
(Fischer 1881)
Description

spotted military dragon (Ctenophorus maculatus)
Bernier Island, Western Australia
Photo © Mark Sanders
spotted military dragon (Ctenophorus maculatus) distribution range map Ctenophorus maculatus
Spotted military dragon
Year described
(Gray 1931)
Description

Lake Eyre dragon (Ctenophorus maculosus)
Lake Eyre north, South Australia
Photo © Rob Valentic
Lake Eyre dragon (Ctenophorus maculosus) distribution range map Ctenophorus maculosus
Lake Eyre dragon
Year described
(Mitchell 1948)
Description

McKenzie's dragon (Ctenophorus mckenziei)
Noondoonia Station, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
McKenzie's dragon (Ctenophorus mckenziei) distribution range map Ctenophorus mckenziei
McKenzie's dragon
Year described
(Storr 1981)
Description

Barrier Range dragon (Ctenophorus mirrityana)
Mutawintji National Park, New South Wales
Photo © Matthew Bonnett
Barrier Range dragon (Ctenophorus mirrityana) distribution range map Ctenophorus mirrityana
Barrier Range dragon
Year described
McLean, Moussalli, Sass & Stuart-Fox 2013
Description
Flattened head and body.1 "head relatively small for body size; snout scales keeled or weakly wrinkled; vertebral scales flat and pale in colour; black lateral stripe from tympanum to groin; thinner, non- continuous orange stripe within black lateral stripe; flanks lack tubercular scales; male throat coloration pale cream with parallel grey stripes and black central stripe sometimes overlain with orange flushes."1

Lake Disappointment dragon (Ctenophorus nguyarna)
Lake Disappointment, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Lake Disappointment dragon (Ctenophorus nguyarna) distribution range map Ctenophorus nguyarna
Lake Disappointment dragon
Year described
Doughty, Maryan, Melville & Austin 2007
Description

central netted dragon (Ctenophorus nuchalis)
Alpha, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
central netted dragon (Ctenophorus nuchalis) distribution range map Ctenophorus nuchalis
Central netted dragon
Year described
(De Vis 1884)
Description

ornate dragon (Ctenophorus ornatus)
Cape le Grande, Western Australia
Photo © David Fischer
ornate dragon (Ctenophorus ornatus) distribution range map Ctenophorus ornatus
Ornate dragon
Year described
(Gray 1845)
Description

Gnaraloo heath dragon (Ctenophorus parviceps)
Coral Bay, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
Gnaraloo heath dragon (Ctenophorus parviceps) distribution range map Ctenophorus parviceps
Gnaraloo heath dragon
Year described
Storr 1964
Description

painted dragon (Ctenophorus pictus)
Morney Plain, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
painted dragon (Ctenophorus pictus) distribution range map Ctenophorus pictus
Painted dragon
Year described
(Peters 1866)
Description

western netted dragon (Ctenophorus reticulatus)
Leonora, Western Australia
Photo © Mark Sanders
western netted dragon (Ctenophorus reticulatus) distribution range map Ctenophorus reticulatus
Western netted dragon
Year described
(Gray 1845)
Description

reddening sand-dragon (Ctenophorus rubens)
Carnarvon, Western Australia
Photo © Brendan Schembri
reddening sand-dragon (Ctenophorus rubens) distribution range map Ctenophorus rubens
Reddening sand-dragon
Year described
Storr 1965
Description

rusty dragon (Ctenophorus rufescens)
Yulara, Northern Territory
Photo © Jordan de Jong
rusty dragon (Ctenophorus rufescens) distribution range map Ctenophorus rufescens
Rusty dragon
Year described
(Stirling & Zietz 1893)
Description

claypan dragon (Ctenophorus salinarum)
Leonora, Western Australia
Photo © Mark Sanders
claypan dragon (Ctenophorus salinarum) distribution range map Ctenophorus salinarum
Claypan dragon
Year described
(Storr 1966)
Description

lozenge-marked dragon (Ctenophorus scutulatus)
Exmouth, Western Australia
Photo © David Fischer
lozenge-marked dragon (Ctenophorus scutulatus) distribution range map Ctenophorus scutulatus
Lozenge-marked dragon
Year described
(Stirling And Zietz 1893)
Description

Slater's ring-tailed dragon (Ctenophorus slateri)
Lark Quarry, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
Slater's ring-tailed dragon (Ctenophorus slateri) distribution range map Ctenophorus slateri
Slater's ring-tailed dragon
Year described
(Storr 1967)
Description

ochre dragon (Ctenophorus tjantjalka)
Coober Pedy, South Australia
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
ochre dragon (Ctenophorus tjantjalka) distribution range map Ctenophorus tjantjalka
Ochre dragon
Year described
Johnston 1992
Description

red-barred dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)
Captive animal
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
red-barred dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa) distribution range map Ctenophorus vadnappa
Red-barred dragon
Year described
(Houston 1974)
Description

Yinnietharra rock dragon (Ctenophorus yinnietharra)
Yinnietharra Station, Western Australia
Photo © Steve Wilson
Yinnietharra rock dragon (Ctenophorus yinnietharra) distribution range map Ctenophorus yinnietharra
Yinnietharra rock dragon
Year described
(Storr 1981)
Description

References
  1. McLean, Claire; Moussalli, Adnan; Sass, Steve; & Stuart-Fox, Devi (2013). Taxonomic assessment of the Ctenophorus decresii complex (Reptilia: Agamidae) reveals a new species of dragon lizard from western New South Wales. Records of the Australian Museum, 65(3):51-63.
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