Added 5 April 2026.
For some time these species were considered part of the Amphibolurus genus, although Australian literature referred to them by their current genus. Further reclassification has moved reassigned A. longirostris to Gowidon, A. nobbi to Diporiphora and A. temporalis to Tropicagama, while L. horneri was described in 2018.
Melville et al characterised the genus as follows: A genus consisting of large agamid lizards in the subfamily Amphibolurinae, with exposed tympanum, gular scales smooth to weakly keeled, ventral scales weakly to strongly keeled. Stoutly built with moderately long legs and tail. Broad white stripe on the upper and lower lips, extending along the full extent of the jaw, pale stripe from behind the eye to the top of the ear, which is cream, white, grey or yellow in life. This pale stripe is well defined ventrally and dorsally by a row of darkly pigmented scales. Heterogenous scales on the back both at the midline and dorsolaterally, associated with a weak to prominent row of enlarged, strongly keeled scales. Colour patterns of grey, brown, rust-brown and black. Well-developed nuchal crest continuous with the enlarged row of vertebral scales. Broad pale dorsolateral stripes, which may extend from top of ear or back of head to hips. Dorsolateral stripes are not continuous with the pale lip stripes. On the back, dorsolateral stripes may be intersected by wedges of brown or grey. Preanal pores 3–6; femoral pores 2–8.
Species Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
Lophognathus |
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L. gilberti |
Gilbert's Lashtail, Gilbert's Dragon
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Australia (West Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland)
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TL 40 cm, SVL 10 cm |
Found in a variety of habits; an arboreal species usally observed perched on the limbs of trees, termitaria, etc. [Cogger]. The subspecies L. g. centralis appears to be no longer valid. Description: snout not longer than the distance between the orbit and the posterior border of the ear. Nostril a little nearer the orbit than the tip of the snout. Keels of the upper dorsal scales horizontal, forming parallel lines with the vertebral crest. Parotoid region with a few erect pointed scales. Gular scales very feebly keeled. A broad light band along upper and lower lip; a light band along each side of the back. [SOURCES: Boulenger, Cogger] |
L. g. gilberti |
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L. g. centralis |
Centralian Lashtail |
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L. horneri |
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Australia (Northern Territory) |
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Described in 2018 by Melville et al. Description: large robust dragon with long head and well-built moderately long limbs; heterogenous scales on the back, both at the midline and dorsolaterally, associated with a weak to prominent row of enlarged strongly keeled scales. Coloration: broad white stripe on the upper and lower lips, extending along the full extent of the jaw, a pale stripe from behind the eye to the top of the ear, which is cream, white, grey or yellow in life. This pale stripe is well defined ventrally and dorsally by a row of darkly pigmented scales. L. horneri is distinguished from L. gilberti by the presence of a distinct white spot on the tympanum: this well-defined white spot is wholly surrounded or bordered dorsally and to the anterior by an area of black pigmentation that is positioned on the upper posterior quarter of the tympanum. This area of black pigmentation also runs along a raised ridge that extends from the outer dorsoposterior edge of the tympanum towards its centre. [SOURCE: Melville et al] |
Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Harold Cogger, 6th edition.
A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Steve Wilson and Gerry Swan, Reed New Holland, Sydney, 2003.
Agamid Lizards, Ulrich Manthey and Norbert Schuster, TFH 1996 (originally published in German, 1992, as Agamen).