Water dragons

A favourite amongst visitors, Gippsland Water Dragons (Intellagama lesueurii howitti) are semi-aquatic lizards in the Agamidae family (the dragons).

Water dragons delight with their impressive looks and entertaining antics

Fun facts

• There are hundreds of water dragons in the Gardens, 70% of which are female.
• Water dragons have inhabited Australia for 20 million years.
• Similar to skinks and geckos, water dragons can drop or lose their tail if threatened or attacked and can regrow it.
• Water dragons moult to rid themselves of their old, dead skin.
• Water dragons can lift themselves up on their back legs and run short distances if threatened.
• They can hold their breath under water for up to an hour to escape predators.
• Females can lay up to two clutches of 10–20 eggs each season, which are buried. The sex of each hatchling is determined by the temperature of the eggs during incubation. • Water dragons can live up to 28 years in the wild and up to 40 years in captivity.
• If you see a male bobbing its head it is saying 'move on, this is my territory!'