Natural History: Chinese Water Dragon

Chinese Water Dragon

(Physignathus cocincinus)

Order: Squamata

Family: Agamidae

Location: The Chinese water dragon can be found within Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and in southern China. The Chinese water dragon can also be found in North American households as it is a popular pet people like to have in their homes. This is most likely due to its strikingly green skin and typically pleasant nature.


Habitat: The Chinese water dragon lives true to its name by preferring the banks of freshwater lakes and streams.  They are an arboreal lizard which means that they spend a lot of time in the trees or plants surrounding their aquatic habitats. Chinese water dragons also prefer relatively high humidity levels, average humidity levels they inhabitant are 40-80%. Temperatures in the regions they inhabitant ranges from 80-90 F. This isn’t surprising considering they are ectotherms and regulate their body temperature through their environment. The Chinese water dragon’s preference to be in close proximity to bodies of water allows for an easy escape if they feel threatened. When threatened they will drop from their resting place in the trees into the water and will either swim away or can submerge themselves for up to 25 minutes.


Life History: Female Chinese water dragons become sexually mature at about one year of age and males become sexually mature at about eight months. During the breeding season the male will head bob and chase the female. When the male catches the female he will grab the female by the nape of her neck, twist his tail around her and insert one of his hemepenes. Sometimes mating can be real aggressive and the female can have her neck torn in the process of mating. About one or two months after copulation, a female will look for a suitable place to deposit her eggs. After finding a suitable habitant the female will then dig a hole and deposit her eggs. After a few months the eggs will hatch. The hatchlings are very small, about one inch from snout to vent.


Diet: The Chinese water dragon’s diet consists mainly of insects and sometimes they will prey upon small fish, mammals or reptiles.


Life Span: Chinese water dragons can live up to ten or fifteen years.


Personal Observations: I decided to do my natural history blog on the Chinese water dragon after our class went on a field trip to the Cincinnati Zoo and we were introduced to the Chinese water dragon by one of the Zoo’s animal caretakers. One of the first observations I made about the Chinese water dragon was how docile it was while being handled. Also, its green coloration paired with its pinkish throat made it a very attractive specimen to look at. I could tell fairly easily why this reptile is a popular pet to have due its large brown eyes and mild temperament.  


Interesting fact: The Chinese water dragon’s bodily features have some real unique functions. For instance, the Chinese water dragons not only use their tails for balance when climbing but also use it as a whip to lash out at potential predators.


Sources:

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Asianwaterdragon.cfm



http://www.reptilechannel.com/lizards/lizard-species/wonderful-world-water-dragons.aspx