Ctenophorus vadnappa
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Red-barred Dragon
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102013PD_dragon.jpg)
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102015PD_dragon.jpg)
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102017PD_dragon.jpg)
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102024PD_dragon.jpg)
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102025PD_dragon.jpg)
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102027PD_dragon.jpg)
Adult male Red-barred Dragons in their breeding colors are perhaps the most beautiful lizards in Australia (or anywhere else?). The bright colors of this prime specimen caught my eye from a distance while it was motionless on a high rock (first picture). A female of the species clung to the side of the same rock (second picture). I spent the next half hour or so following the male around as he sprinted from rock to rock. He would sometimes stop to bask for awhile, sometimes do some he-man push-ups, and sometimes patrol the edges of his latest rocky perch to look for tasty insect snacks.
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102030PD_dragon.jpg)
Females and juveniles have a similar pattern to the males, but without the bright colors. In some cases, like in this subadult, the banding is so low-contrast that it's almost invisible.
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102210PD_dragon.jpg)
![Red-barred Dragon (Ctenophorus vadnappa)](../images/herps/standard/15102212PD_dragon.jpg)
I saw a few more Red-barred Dragons in Arkaroola a couple of days later, but none as spectacular as that amazing male from Wilkawillina Gorge.
Printed references:
- Cogger, H. G. 2014. Reptiles & Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition
- Wilson, S. and Swan, G. 2017. A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fifth Edition