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Western Netted Dragon - Ctenophorus reticulatus
The Nyangumarta aboriginals from the Pilbara call this lizard pampirta
A small to medium sized robust dragon that is very similar to the Central netted dragon Ctenophorus nuchalis. Very commonly encountered during the hotter months of the year where they are usually seen swiftly scuttling between spinifex bushes when startled. Below the eye they have a row of large scales that curve up toward their large exposed tympanum. They have a blunt rounded head, short legs and their body lacks dorsal spines.
The dorsal area is scattered erratically with small tubercles.
Pre-anal pores are present and these vary in number, between 30 to 56, arranged in a relatively straight line under the back legs.
Mature males look different than the females of this species with the males displaying varying amounts of black pigment to their chest and throat area which is very typical of most dragons in this genus.
Habitat
Found in temperate sub-tropical to tropical areas and particularly those areas of desert plains including flood plains.
They shelter inside shallow ground burrows that often have more than one entrance.
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Food
They feed on various insects like ants and termites, with a preferred favourite being spiders and centipedes. They also eat soft plant material e.g. flowers, fruits and leaves.
Breeding
Females can lay anything between 2 and 8 eggs from about October to late summer.
Under favourable conditions, they are likely to have more than one clutch per season.
Comments
Not such a commonly kept species in Western Australia, this maybe more the case that they haven't been widely collected for the pet trade as of yet. This species is a relatively short lived reptile with specimens seldom living for more than a few years.
All native reptiles in W.A remain protected under the W.A Wildlife Conservation Act (1950)
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