Trivia question for Aug-27-2011

Olivia likes reptiles so it is no wonder she gravitated to this cool creature.  These guys can rapidly erect a neck frill to increase its apparent size and scare off would-be predators.  They are able to stand upright on its hind legs and run 50-yards or more at high speeds.

These lizards are found mainly in the northern regions of Australia and southern New Guinea. The lizard inhabits humid climates such as those in the tropical savannah woodlands. The lizard is an arboreal lizard, meaning it spends a majority of its time in the trees. The lizard ventures to the floor only in search of food, or to engage in territorial conflicts. The arboreal habitat may be a product of the lizard’s diet, which consists mainly of small arthropods and vertebrates (usually smaller lizards). However, the trees are most importantly used for camouflage.

So here are Olivia’s questions:  Tell us what this lizard is called and how it got its nickname ‘bicycle dragon”?  Also, at one time, the Australian 2-cent coins that featured this lizard was worth a lot more than their face value in Japan.  Tell us how many more times the original value, was the coin selling for in Japan?

Good Luck 😉

Answer:

Congratulations goes out to both Jean Netherton for identifying the lizard and its nickname and to Tami Kannenberg for finding the information regarding the australian coins which feature this lizard. The Lizard we featured is the Frill-necked Lizard. The frill-necked lizard, also known as the frilled lizard or frilled dragon, is found mainly in northern Australia and southern New Guinea. Its name comes from the large frill around its neck, which usually stays folded against the lizard’s body.

In addition to running around on its hindlegs, the frilled lizard also hops like a kangaroo when threatened.  Its habit of running on two legs has earned it the name ‘bicycle dragon’.   The frilled lizard became popular in Japan in the 1980s in a car commercial.  At the time, Australian 2-cent coins that featured the lizard, were worth 50-times their face value in Japan.  And as Tami pointed out, uncirculated coins actually fetch 100 to 200 times their face value.  Here is more on these cool reptiles: Frilled-neck lizard

Thanks for playing along 😉