Encyclopaedia
ReptileTerrestrialEasy
©AI Generated·Proprietary
Rankin's Dragon
Pogona henrylawsoni
A smaller version of the popular bearded dragon, lacking the prominent spiky beard. Very docile and active, it requires spacious desert terrariums with strong UVB lighting and high temperatures.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Agamidae
Subfamily:Amphibolurinae
Genus:Pogona
Species:Pogona henrylawsoni
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
30 - 40 %
Day temperature
30 - 38 °C
Night temperature
20 - 24 °C
Adult size
15.2 cm
UVB
High
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the black soil plains of central Queensland, Australia. It inhabits arid and semi-arid grasslands and shrublands, seeking refuge in deep cracks that form in the clay soil.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Agamidae and the genus Pogona. Genetically distinct from the larger central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), recognized by its significantly smaller adult size and lack of a spiny beard.
Behavior and Habits: Diurnal, terrestrial, and semi-arboreal. Known for its highly social nature and calm temperament. Communication includes social gestures like head-bobbing and arm-waving to show submission.
Morphology: Reaches an adult size of 25-30 cm. Features a rounded head, shorter snout, and lacks the extensive spiny pouch under the throat. Coloration is typically grey-brown with two rows of pale, oval spots along the back.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A horizontal desert terrarium (minimum 90x45x45 cm) is required. Use a packed sand-clay mixture as substrate to allow digging. Furnish with secure climbing branches, flat basking rocks, and shelters.
Lighting and Heating: Requires high heat. Basking spot should reach 38-42°C (100-108°F), with ambient temperatures of 26-30°C (79-86°F) and a night drop to 18-22°C (64-72°F). High-output 10-12% UVB lighting is mandatory.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain low humidity (30-40%). Provide a shallow, clean water dish. Warm, shallow baths once or twice a week help with hydration and promote healthy shedding.
Feeding and Supplementation: Omnivorous. Juveniles require mainly insects (crickets, roaches, worms), while adults transition to a diet heavy in leafy greens (dandelion, chicory, endive). Dust food with calcium and D3 twice a week, and multivitamins weekly.
Compatibility: Can be kept individually or in small groups (one male, multiple females) if space is sufficient. Never house multiple males together due to risk of aggressive fights.
Health and Common Diseases: Prone to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) if calcium supplementation or UVB light is insufficient. Intestinal impaction is a risk if kept on loose, fine sand. Periodic fecal tests are recommended to monitor parasites.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the black soil plains of central Queensland, Australia. It inhabits arid and semi-arid grasslands and shrublands, seeking refuge in deep cracks that form in the clay soil.
Origin
Australia, New Guinea, and Oceania
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 15.2 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 15.2 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 15.2 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
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