Common Name
Eastern Water Dragon
Alternate name
Water Dragon
Comment
Common and widespread near freshwater.
Stronghold population
False
Regionally significant/rationale
False
Restricted distribution/rationale
False
Local distribution
Widespread in urban areas, parklands, melaleuca, wet and dry eucalyptus forest
Known location
Eagleby, Coomera, Tallebudgera Valley, Currumbin Waters, Pimpama, Marymount, Nerang, Edens Landing,
Other locality
This lizard is very widespread, found wherever freshwater is present, including degraded areas.
General ecology
The banks of rivers, streams, drains, at low and high altitides.
Specific ecology
Water, with shelter on the banks.
Habitat comment
This dragon fares well in urban areas, surviving and often thriving in suburban parks and along drains.
Diet
The species feeds mainly on small reptiles, worms, frogs, insects, vegetation, fruit, small mammals and molluscs (Queensland Museum 2008 and Australian Reptile Park 2006).
Behaviour
They are semi-aquatic powerful swimmers, and can remain submerged for up to half an hour (there are some reports of them being submerged for as long as two hours).
Description
The Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii) is an alert, upright lizard with a crest of spines down the middle of its back and a long, laterally-flattened tail. Males are larger than females and are often territorial, particularly when confronted by other males.
