Alice Springs Fauna •

Alice Springs ReptilesBearded Dragon Bynoe’s Gecko Common Desert Ctenotus Ctenotus saxatilis Eastern Tree Dtella Long-nosed Dragon Perentie

Known locally as a “Beardie” or the Bearded Dragon, this handsome reptile looks fiercesome and formidable, but this is “all show and no go“, and will more like scurry away from you.

Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps), Alice Springs Reptile Centre
Central Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps), Alice Springs Reptile Centre

Also known as the Central Bearded Dragon or the Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps) it is interesting to see the ’rounded beard’ darken and puff out, displaying the rows of spines across the throat.

The following beautiful photos of the Bearded Dragon were taken just on the outskirts of Alice Springs by Andy Brown.

Overall the bearded dragon has a broad, shaped head, rounded body, stout legs and robust tail. The colour is variable, often reflecting the soil region that they live in. The colours can range from a dusty gold, dark to pale cream, dull brown to tan, sometimes with grey to red-orange or gold highlights.

Juvenile Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps), Alice Springs Reptile Centre, NT
Juvenile Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps), Alice Springs Reptile Centre, NT

Some locals in Alice Springs also have the Beardie as visitors to their garden.

More images from our Alice Springs Reptile Inland/Central Bearded Dragon page and check out our Fauna section on Reptiles > Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps).


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Reptilia
  • Order: Squamata
  • Suborder: Iguania
  • Family: Agamidae
  • Subfamily: Amphibolurinae
  • Genus: Pogona
  • Species: Pogona vitticeps

Alice Springs ReptilesBearded Dragon Bynoe’s Gecko Common Desert Ctenotus Ctenotus saxatilis Eastern Tree Dtella Long-nosed Dragon Perentie

Alice Springs FaunaAlice Springs Native Bees Alice Springs Beetles Alice Springs Birds Alice Springs Gastropods (Gastropoda) Alice Springs Insects Alice Springs Marsupials Alice Springs Reptiles Alice Springs Spiders

Alice Springs FloraAlice Springs Flora Index Acacia ligulata Annual Yellowtop Bougainvillea Apple Bush Burdekin Plum Carob Tree (Ceratonia siliqa) Cattle Bush Desert Cotton (Aerva javanica) Desert Oak Eremophila Wildberry Feijoa sellowiana Flannel Cudweed Fork-leaf Corkwood Ghost Gum Golden Everlasting Kurrajong Lemon-flowered Gum MacDonnell’s Desert Fuchsia Native Bluebell Native Tomato Needlewood Olive Tree Perennial Yellow Top Rat’s Tail River Red Gum Inland River Red Gum Rosy Dock Round-leaved Mallee Scurvy Grass Silky Eremophila Stemodia viscosa Striped Mintbush Sturt’s Desert Pea Sturt’s Desert Rose Tangled Leschenaultia Tar Vine Weeping Bottlebrush White Cedar Yellow Billybutton Yellow-keeled Swainsona Yellow Oleander