The jacky dragon is usually found in dry sclerophyll forests and woodlands. They are present in the eastern highlands, but not in alpine areas. They are semiarboreal, and individuals are often seen perching on fallen or standing timber. Predators and prey Insects compose most of the diet of the jacky dragon. These include flies, moths, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and small beetles. Predators of young jacky dragons are numerous and can include small mammals, such as feral cats or rats, and other reptiles. Adults face aerial predation from birds such as kookaburras, ravens, black-shouldered kites, and Nankeen kestrels. The dragons use visual cues such as the changing area over time, edge length, shape, and orientation in the recognition of aerial predators. Behaviour Jacky dragons are very swift lizards and like many other dragons (Agamidae), will sometimes run in an almost upright position on their hind legs when pursued. In cool, wet weather, they bury themselves in the sand or shelter under a bush. They rarely enter the water, but do have the ability to swim. In a fight, opponents circle each other in an upright position with their bodies laterally compressed so as to enlarge their appearance. They tend to direct their attacks towards the tails of their opponents. Various territorial displays include tail-waving, raising or lowering their bodies, head-bobbing, arm-waving, and darkening their color. Jacky dragons have many different displays, or series of movements, that are used as communication between conspecifics. The push-up display, for example, begins with a series of tail flicks, backward and forward arm-waves, a push-up and a characteristic rocking of the entire body. These unique movements have velocity and directional characteristics that distinguish them from other environmental occurrences such as the blowing of vegetation. This is necessary because the visual system of the jacky dragon relies mostly on movement for information. Conservation status The jacky dragon is not in danger of extinction. The abundance of the jacky dragon and other common reptiles is a result of the heterogeneity and structural complexity of the ground and groundcover of undisturbed areas, which is an important observation in the conservation of reptiles in Australia. References Pet Lizards: All You Need To Know Amphibolurus Reptiles of Victoria (Australia) Reptiles of Queensland Reptiles of New South Wales Reptiles of South Australia Reptiles described in 1790 Taxa named by John White (surgeon) Agamid lizards of Australia