About Ctenophorus ornatus (Gray, 1845)
Ctenophorus ornatus (Gray, 1845), commonly called the ornate crevice-dragon or ornate dragon, is a species of lizard belonging to the family Agamidae. It is found on granite outcrops in Western Australia. This species is part of the diverse genus Ctenophorus, which includes a group of lizards known as rock dragons. It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by its greatly flattened body, which reaches a total length of around 290 mm, with a snout-to-vent length of 95 mm, and its distinctly banded tail. Ctenophorus ornatus is common on granite outcrops, where it shelters under rock slabs and boulders, particularly in undisturbed areas. When out in the open, often basking on warm rocks, it performs the characteristic head-bobbing behavior seen in many related species. The distribution range of Ctenophorus ornatus extends from the Goldfields region to the Darling Range, and on to the southern coastline of Western Australia. It has also been recorded at the Archipelago of the Recherche, which are offshore granite islands, and a reddish-colored form of the species has been noted in the Murchison district.
