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Wildlife Guide · Oceania

Frilled Lizard

Chlamydosaurus kingii

The lizard that flares a dramatic neck frill

IUCN: Least Concern
Frilled lizard standing with its large neck frill flared open and mouth gaping

Image: Photo: Matt from Melbourne, Australia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

In brief

The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened. It grows up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long including the tail and weighs around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb).

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated

The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened. It grows up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long including the tail and weighs around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). When alarmed on the ground it sprints away on its hind legs, and it can live 10 to 20 years.

0.9 m

Typical length

600 g

Typical weight

30 km/h

Top speed

15 yrs

Lifespan

Figures sourced from Wikipedia — Frilled Lizard, Wikidata — Frilled Lizard .

Frilled Lizard: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Frilled Lizard
Scientific name Chlamydosaurus kingii
Diet Carnivore (mainly insects)
Habitat Tropical woodlands and dry forest
Lifespan 10–20 years
Length Up to 0.9 m (3 ft) including tail
Weight About 0.5 kg (1.1 lb)
Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN)

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Frilled Lizard
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Agamidae
Genus Chlamydosaurus

Conservation Status

IUCN Status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List category)
Population
Global population not compiled for this guide
Trend
See the IUCN Red List assessment
Assessed
See the IUCN Red List assessment
CITES
See CITES appendices

Conservation figures are drawn from the IUCN Red List and CITES; this guide links to the authoritative sources rather than restating population counts.

Key Facts: Frilled Lizard

  • The frill is a fold of skin supported by long rods of cartilage attached to the jaw.
  • If the display fails, the frilled lizard turns and flees in a way few reptiles can match.
  • Frilled lizards are strongly arboreal and spend most of the day clinging to trunks and branches in tropical woodland and dry forest.

The famous frill and its bluff

The frill is a fold of skin supported by long rods of cartilage attached to the jaw. Normally it lies flat against the shoulders, but when the lizard opens its mouth the frill springs out into a disc that can be up to 30 cm across. Combined with hissing, gaping, and tail-lashing, this display makes the animal look far larger and more dangerous than it really is. The bluff is meant to startle a predator long enough for the lizard to escape.

Running on two legs

If the display fails, the frilled lizard turns and flees in a way few reptiles can match. It rears up and runs on its hind legs alone, tail held out for balance, in a comical upright sprint toward the nearest tree. This bipedal dash can reach around 30 km/h over short distances. Once it reaches a trunk it scrambles up and freezes against the bark, where its grey-brown colouring blends in.

Life in the trees

Frilled lizards are strongly arboreal and spend most of the day clinging to trunks and branches in tropical woodland and dry forest. From this vantage point they watch the ground for movement and drop down to snatch prey. They are ambush hunters that stay motionless for long stretches, relying on camouflage rather than active searching. Height also keeps them clear of many ground predators.

Diet and feeding

This lizard is a carnivore that feeds mainly on insects. Cicadas, beetles, ants, termites, and spiders make up the bulk of its diet, and larger individuals will also take small lizards and the occasional small mammal. It hunts by sitting still and ambushing anything that wanders within reach. Feeding activity rises sharply in the wet season, when insect numbers explode.

Seasons and breeding

Northern Australia's climate swings between a hot wet season and a long dry season, and the frilled lizard's year is built around it. The animals are most active and breed during the wet, when food is abundant, and become far more sluggish and secretive through the dry months. Females lay clutches of roughly 8 to 23 eggs in shallow nests dug into soft soil. The eggs hatch after two to three months, and hatchlings are independent from birth.

Conservation status

The frilled lizard is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains widespread across its northern Australian and New Guinean range. The main pressures it faces are habitat clearance, wildfire, and predation by introduced cats and foxes. It is also collected for the exotic pet trade, though wild populations are currently considered stable. Healthy tree cover is the single most important thing for its long-term survival.

What WARN Does

WARN does not run a dedicated frilled lizard programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The frilled lizard is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the frilled lizard supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.

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Frilled Lizard: Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the frilled lizard have a frill?
The frill is a defensive bluff. When a predator approaches, the lizard opens its mouth and flares the frill into a wide disc, making itself look much bigger and scarier so the attacker hesitates. It is not used for feeding and has no venom behind it.

Can a frilled lizard really run on two legs?
Yes. When it flees on open ground the frilled lizard rears up and runs on its hind legs alone, holding its tail out for balance. This upright bipedal sprint carries it quickly to the nearest tree, where it climbs to safety.

How big does a frilled lizard get?
A frilled lizard reaches up to about 0.9 m (3 ft) in total length, though most of that is its long tail. Body weight is only around 0.5 kg (1.1 lb), so it is a lightly built, agile climber rather than a heavy reptile.

What do frilled lizards eat?
Frilled lizards are carnivores that eat mostly insects, including cicadas, beetles, ants, termites, and spiders. Larger individuals also take small lizards and occasionally small mammals. They hunt by ambush, staying still and grabbing prey that passes close by.

Are frilled lizards dangerous to humans?
No. Despite the dramatic threat display, frilled lizards are harmless to people. They have no venom, and a large one can deliver only a mild bite if handled. Their whole strategy is to frighten enemies off rather than to fight.

How long do frilled lizards live?
Frilled lizards typically live between 10 and 20 years. Lifespan depends heavily on avoiding predators such as birds of prey, snakes, and introduced cats and foxes, especially while young and small.

Where do frilled lizards live?
Frilled Lizards live in Tropical woodlands and dry forest. The frilled lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii) is a tree-dwelling reptile of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, famous for the wide, leathery frill it snaps open around its neck when threatened.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

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