Diporiphora nobbi

The nobbi dragon, Diporiphora nobbi, is indigenous to parts of eastern Australia including New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria. It is distinguished by its pink tongue and mouth, as well as the two wide stripes along its back, on each a side of the spine.[3] The standard colors of the species are brown and black, and there are no other discerning patterns on the skin. D. nobbi is up to 12 cm long (snout to vent length), and has lines of spines along the ears.[4] It is fast-moving, but often rests near shrubbery or tree trunks; when threatened, the lizard runs on its hind legs. D. nobbi distinguished with less than 20 dorsal scale rows at the level of the axilla are diagnosed as nobbi, while those with 21 or fewer scale rows between and including outer dorsal scale rows are diagnosed as coggeri.[3]

Diporiphora nobbi can be classified as a member of the agamidae family, commonly known as iguanian lizards. Many of these species are known as dragon lizards and there are over 300 species in the family. D. nobbi are part of the Diporiphora genus which comprises 21 species based on genetic and morphological evidence. Diporiphora is distinct from other genera in the agamidae by their climbing ability and slight morphological differences. They are also endemic to Australia, although two species (D. australis and D. bilineata) are found in New Guinea. D.nobbi differs morphologically from a closely related member of the genus, D. jugularis, due to the presence of a gular fold.[5] In addition, D. nobbi is also distinctly larger than D. jugularis (75 mm vs 65 mm SVL).[5] Morphological differences like these make D.nobbi appear as a different species from others in the genus. Phylogenetic analysis performed by Edwards and Danielle in 2011 uncovers two distinct clades within D. nobbi.[6] The potential species within these clades have not yet been researched. Their analysis also confirms that D. phaeospinosa sp.nov and D. nobbi are reciprocally monophyletic sister lineages that shared a common ancestor around 8.61 million years ago.[6] D. sp.nov. also differs from D. nobbi morphologically as seen through differences in the arrangement of postauricular spines, strength of scale keeling, dorso-lateral scale keeling, etc.[6]

D. nobbi is found in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria.[1][2]

The preferred natural habitats of D. nobbi are shrubland, savanna, and forest.[1]

Diporiphora nobbi are carnivorous, similar to other members of the agamidae family, feeding on bugs, insects, and other invertebrates. They are known to sit and wait for their prey, and due to their fast-speed, they can easily capture food.[4] Further research could be done to identify which specific insects that D. nobbi frequently eat since they are localized to parts of Australia. It can be assumed that they mainly consume ants, worms, and other small gut-loaded bugs.

D. nobbi is oviparous.[2]

Since Diporiphora nobbi is abundant in many parts of Australia, and there are no serious predators to them, their conservation status is of least concern. There is not an effort to estimate population size or potential trends, but their relative abundance leads to the low priority for conservation. The species does not receive any explicit regulations or educational programs against its predation by humans.

• Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
• Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.
• Witten GJ (1972). "A New Species of Amphibolurus from Eastern Australia". Herpetologica 28 (3): 191–195. (Amphibolurus nobbi nobbi, new species and subspecies; Amphibolurus nobbi coggeri, new subspecies).
• Witten GJ, Heatwole H (1978). "Preferred Temperature of the Agamid Lizard Amphibolurus nobbi nobbi ". Copeia 1978 (2): 362–364.