I have been emailing with the gentleman who identified and named P. henrylawsoni's (improperly called rankins by some) and he shared some information on bearded dragons in their native environment I thought you all might find interesting.
He has identified and has a specimen of a ninth species of pogona and is about to name it. Similar to P. henrylawsoni but brick red in color with a white belly and other markers that verify a different species.
Another point od interest is that there are actually two different natural lines of P. vitticeps in Australia. The smaller ones from the north-western Queensland area and the larger ones from further west. This could very well explain some of the smaller vitticeps we are seeing in the US that appear genetically healthy, but smaller than we originally thought bearded dragons should be.
This is what I find really interesting, according to him also, he has found what looks like vitticeps X mitchelli in the region where both of these species come into contact. There are areas that several species do overlap and they do hybridize in those area, he has seen them. In mid-western New South Wales there is a zone of contact between vitticeps and barbata. But states that all three morphs are sympatric, and he has never found a gravid hybrid, indicating that they are probably incapable of producing.
He also states there is a Northern Territory
Pogona vitticeps-like dragons from the lower northern sector of the Territory that is undescribed as of yet.
And finally, we have been trying to determine if the P. henrylawsoni's in the US are in fact the real henrylawsoni's or this possible ninth species. This has even been questioned in some books printed in the US.
We would like to thank Dana and Loren @ Sundial Reptiles for contributing some detailed pictures of her line of them and helping answer this question, that has been unanswered and questioned for many years. Yes, it appears the ones in the US (at least the ones that Dana has) are in fact the original P. henrylawsoni's that he named them for.
Just something I found interesting and thought I would pass along.
Special thanks to Richard Wells in Australia for his very interesting and valuable information.
My 11 month old male, Barbata mated with my 2 year old Vitticeps. The male is 19", so I'm thinking he is older than what I was told. If my female does become Gravid, her eggs are fertile should I incubate them or freeze them? I ask this for this would produce an Hybrid clutch.....
Any problems known of Hybrids in captivity?
Thank you,
Jasper
Re: New species of Bearded Dragons
(Score: 1)
by Meire on May 23, 2004 - 09:43 PM
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Wow, this is very exciting and interesting information. I am eager to hear more about this new species and possibly viewing some photos along the line. Thank you for passing this along, Cheri. Very interesting!
