Download Grasslands Earless Dragon fact sheet PDF (88 KB)

What is it?
The Grassland Earless Dragon is a declared endangered lizard species in the ACT, NSW and Nationally. It is one of Australia's smallest dragons-total adult body length is approximately 13cm, and more than half this length is made up of its tail. This Dragon has cryptic colouration so that it merges into its background, sometimes making it difficult to spot.

Where is it found?
In the ACT, the Grassland Earless Dragon is found in grassland habitat in the Majura and Jerrabomberra valleys. This includes both Natural Temperate Grassland-an endangered ecological community-and native pasture. This Dragon sometimes hides in grass tussocks or spider holes.

What's left?
The Grassland Earless Dragon was very common in the ACT up to the 1930s but there are now very few left. This is mainly because there are so few areas of its native grassland habitat remaining. There are now only two main populations known in the ACT; and there is one near Cooma in NSW.

Why is it important?
It is important to protect animals such as the Grassland Earless Dragon because once a species becomes extinct, they are gone forever.  All species play a part in a functioning ecosystem and we have a responsibility to pass on a healthy natural environment to future generations.