"Can you find the frilly?"

          The frilled neck lizard is a master of adaptations. Its environment experiences a variety of weather that the frilled neck needs to be ready to adapt to. During the dry season, the frilled neck will decrease its activity level in response to the lack of food and water. During the wet season the frilled neck increases its activity greatly and takes advantage of the abundance of food. Because they are properly nourished, the frilled neck uses the rainy season as their mating season.

          Other adaptations are found in their appearance. Because most of their day is spent perched in the trees, the frilled neck has developed a highly effective camouflage. It is very difficult to spot a frilled neck in the trees even if you are looking for one. Their camouflage is a very effective defense against predators. The frilled necks also have scales which helps prevent water loss.

Another major defense mechanism is the structure that gives the frilled neck lizard its name, the frill around the neck. The frill is a piece of skin that wraps around the neck and attaches to the jaw. Because of its attachment to the jaw, when the frilled neck opens its mouth to hiss or make noise at a predator or to ward off competition during mating, the frill will spread open along with the jaw. The jaw also helps the frilled neck to eat. To learn what the frilled neck eats follow me to nutrition!     

Send comments about this page to Kim Acker