The Eastern Water Dragon grows to about 80-90cm long and most of that is the tail.
It inhabits the coastal water courses of eastern Australia.
It is a good tree climber and likes to laze on branches overhanging the water. If disturbed, it will drop into the water and swim to the bottom to wait for the danger to pass, staying under for up to 30 minutes if necessary.
When surprised on land, water dragons do a spectacular bipedal dash – up on their hind legs they do a dinosaur impersonation in miniature, presumably gathering that added speed that makes all the difference between capture and escape.
The Natural Resources team regularly places logs from felled trees within the creek riparian vegetation to assist in providing habitat for reptiles such as the Eastern Water Dragon. The logs are also good habitat for worms, insects and molluscs, which the water dragon eats. Their diet also comprises small reptiles, frogs, vegetation, fruit, and small mammals.
Threats
- Loss and fragmentation habitat through land-clearing for urban development.
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