Wondering where beardies live? In this article, we’ll explore the natural habitat of bearded dragons, what it’s like, and how you can recreate a similar environment for your pet beardie at home.
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Where do bearded dragons live?
Bearded dragons live in Eastern and central Australia and can be found in the eastern half of South Australia to the Southeastern Northern Territory which has woodlands, dunes, heathland, tropical savannahs, and deserts with dry and sparse vegetation. Being cold-blooded animals, they thrive in hot environments and enjoy basking in the sun.
Bearded dragons are attracted to areas with plenty of opportunities to bask in the sun and hunt for food. Woodlands, dunes, heathland, tropical savannahs, and deserts with dry, sparse vegetation are all habitats where bearded dragons can be found.
Bearded dragons are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of insects, small mammals, reptiles, and even carrion found in the nativity. In captivity, they are commonly fed crickets, mealworms, waxworms, pinkie mice, and various vegetables.
Bearded dragons are one of the most popular reptiles kept as pets. They are easy to care for and have a docile personality, which makes them a great pet for first-time
Bearded dragons are cold-blooded animals, meaning they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. In the wild, they will bask in the sun to warm up and hide in the shade to cool down.
You can recreate a similar environment for your pet bearded dragon at home by providing a basking spot with a heat lamp and a cool side with hiding spots and rocks. Bearded dragons also need access to UVB light to help them absorb calcium.
In the wild, bearded dragons eat a variety of insects, small mammals, and reptiles. They are opportunistic feeders and will also eat fruit and flowers.
To recreate a similar diet for your pet beardie, you can offer a variety of live insects as well as chopped vegetables and fruits. Be sure to dust the insects with calcium powder to provide your beardie with the nutrients they need.
Providing your bearded dragon with suitable habitat at home will help them stay healthy and happy. By understanding their natural habitat and needs, you can give your pet the best possible life.
There are 8 species of Bearded Dragons and in the next section, I have listed where each of the species lives.
Where do Eastern Bearded Dragons Live?
The Eastern Bearded Dragon(Pogona barbata) is found along the east coast of Australia from Queensland to Victoria. As shown in the map below, Eastern Beardies live in 4 provinces of Australia; New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
Eastern Bearded Dragons were first discovered before any other Bearded Dragon species in 1829 by Georges Cuvier.
This species was recently on the news for having seen sex changes with hot temperatures attributed to this. Read NBC reporting on this.
Where do Central Bearded Dragons Live?
The Central Bearded Dragon(Pogona vitticeps) lives in semi-arid regions of central Australia in the following provinces; Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales.
As you can see from the map below, Central Beardies have a very large range compared to other Bearded Dragon species.
Central beardy species was first described by German zoologist Ernst Ahl in 1926.
This species is also known as the Inland Bearded Dragon or the Sand Bearded Dragon.
Where do Western Bearded Dragons Live?
The Western Bearded Dragon(Pogona minor) lives along the west coast of Australia in the following provinces; Western Australia and South Australia.
Their range is much smaller than other species.
Where do Nullarbor Bearded Dragons Live?
The Nullarbor Bearded Dragon(Pogona nullarbor) lives in the Nullarbor Plains of Australia which is a large, flat, arid area with no trees in the following provinces; Western Australia and South Australia.
The map below shows their distribution;
In 2017, Nullarbor Bearded Dragon was assessed by IUCN for the addition to The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is now listed as Least Concern. Read our full guide on Bearded Dragons Endangered?
Where do Drysdale River Bearded Dragons Live?
The Drysdale River Bearded Dragon(Pogona henrylawsoni) is found in the river gorge systems of the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Rankin’s dragoogn (Pogona henrylawsoni) was previously considered a subspecies of the Western Bearded Dragon. However, it is now classified as its own species.
Where do Bearded Dragons come from?
Bearded Dragons are from Australia where they thrive in the dry semi-arid weather in various regions of Australia. The 8 Beardie species are spread across Australia with each of the species – Central, Eastern, Inland/Central, Nullarbor, Rankin’s, Drysdale River, Western and Yellow-Headed Bearded Dragons living in different regions.
Beardies in the US are most likely the Pogona vitticeps, Coast or Inland/Central Bearded Dragons as they are the most common in the pet trade. They originate from Central Australia specifically the following provinces; Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales.
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Hi there! My name is Ben Domb, an owner of two pets and I am one of the co-founders of OurPets HQ. I have several years of experience as a pet care professional in the New England region having spent time in various roles including a stint at a veterinary hospital in Upstate New York, Syracuse area. I am a certified pet care professional and mostly spend my time researching pet nutrition and sharing my thoughts in various blogs and columns. With quarantine and COVID restrictions, I have been spending a lot of time a lot with my dogs and cat and loving it! I also run a small consulting business providing advice to parents on pet nutrition, and especially safe homemade options to try. You can reach me at ben@ourpetshq.com
