Adventurous Eastern Water Dragon #2
Here is my intrepid scaly traveller once again. This time, he is appreciating a glorious sea view at some undetermined coastal location.
This is the second image in my series of daily digital posts I am sharing with you. This mixed media pic was created by applying digital effects to an original photo.
Eastern Water Dragons (Physignathus Lesueurii) grow up to 80-90cm in length, most of which, is their tails. They are characterized by their grey/brownish colour and their black bands on their back and tail. There is also a black stripe on the side of their heads behind their eyes.
Their bellies are creamy white in colour but the males often have a red tinge on their belly or chest. Enlarged scales form a crest down the middle of their head, back and tail. Their legs are quite long and very powerful and their strong tails are flattened on the sides which enables them to swim well.
Here is my original photo.
Eastern Water dragons are situated in eastern coastal areas of Australia and they inhabit areas from north Queensland to Gippsland in Eastern Victoria. Great tree climbers, they love stretching out on branches which overhang the water. If they feel threatened, they slip into the water and swim to the bottom and wait for danger to pass and they can stay under the water for approximately 30 minutes at a time.
Small reptiles, worms, frogs, insects, vegetation, fruit, small mammals and molluscs make up their diet. Males rule effectively over a harem of females and females lay about a dozen eggs in excavated, sandy holes. Their young hatch in about 3 months and they mimic their parents by learning how to defend themselves as soon as they hatch.
THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.