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More appropriately known as the Pogona, the bearded dragon is a genus of reptiles containing eight lizard species, all native to Australia. Some dragons can grow over 2 feet long, and they have become popular pets due to their mellow nature and signature looks.
If you’ve ever wondered about the wide variety of bearded dragons you can keep as pets, look no further! We’ve collected a list of the eight species of bearded dragons and a newer hybrid. While each beardie can display a wide range of characteristics depending on their morphs or mutations, the species below form the basis for every other bearded dragon available today.
We also have a list of 13 bearded dragon morphs so you can choose the perfect pet for you!
The 9 Bearded Dragon Species
1. Pogona Barbata (Eastern Bearded Dragon)
Also known as the coastal or eastern bearded dragon, the Pogona Barbata can grow to a whopping 2 feet long! They live in dry, wooded areas and are most active during the warmer daytime hours. With scarce resources in their natural habitats, they tend to be territorial and aggressive toward other lizards.
2. Pogona Henrylawsoni (Lawson’s Bearded Dragon)
The Pogona Henrylawsoni, also known as a Rankin’s or Lawson’s bearded dragon, is a diminutive species that loves to climb. Their preference for dry and arid landscapes with lots of rocks makes them a natural pick for anyone who lives in a desert region or wants to recreate one for their pet lizard.
3. Pogona Microlepidota (Drysdale River Bearded Dragon)
More commonly called the small-scaled or Drysdale River bearded dragon, the Pogona Microlepidota is incredibly rare. Because they’re native to a small region in Northwestern Australia, you’re unlikely to see one at your local pet store. They grow up to a maximum length of 6 inches.
4. Pogona Minor Minor (Dwarf Bearded Dragon)
Also known as the dwarf bearded dragon, the Pogona Minor Minor grows to be around 14–18 inches. They are challenging to find in the wild and prefer rocky areas and woodlands for their home.
5. Pogona Minor Minima (Western Bearded Dragon)
Also known as the western bearded dragon or the more foreboding Abrolhos dwarf bearded dragon, the Pogona Minor Minima is found only in a sparsely populated range of three Western Australian islands. They grow up to about 12 inches and prefer dry woodlands for their homes.
6. Pogona Minor Mitchelli (Mitchell’s Bearded Dragon)
Commonly called Mitchell’s bearded dragon, the Pogona Minor Mitchelli is rare because of habitat loss from human development. They can grow up to about 18 inches and prefer to make their homes in semi-tropical woodlands and deserts.
7. Pogona Nullarbor (Banded Bearded Dragon)
The Pogona Vitticeps, or banded bearded dragon, can grow up to 14 inches and is usually found in environments covered in flat brush. They are most easily recognized by their long series of dark horizontal bands across the back and tail.
8. Pogona Vitticeps (Central Bearded Dragon)
Also known as the inland or central bearded dragon, the Pogona Vitticeps is native to Central Australia. They are friendly, docile, and love to climb. They commonly grow to 2 feet long and are perhaps the most popular species of bearded dragon to keep as a pet.
9. Pogona Vittikins (Vittikins Dragons)
The Pogona Vittikins is the most recently discovered type of bearded dragon. They’re a crossbreed between the Pogona vitticeps and Pogona henrylawsoni species. Sometimes known as Vittikins dragons, they have very agreeable temperaments and grow to about a foot in length, making them ideal pets.
- Related Read: How to Choose the Right Cage Size for Bearded Dragons
The Top 13 Bearded Dragon Morphs Are:
What is a morph? Morphs can refer to colors, patterns, size, body and head shape, spikes, scales, and even eye and nail color. Bearded dragon morphs are determined by genetics, so breeding beardies with different dominant or recessive genes will result in various combinations of morphs.
1. Classic/Standard Morph
This morph is the most common type of bearded dragon, and while they are domestic, they are the closest to wild bearded dragons. Classic bearded dragons have recognizable triangular heads, spiky beards, and spikes covering their bodies.
Their colors are usually tan or brown but can also be red or yellow and may have black or orange markings.
2. Hypomelanistic Morph
Melanin is responsible for a lizard’s skin and scale color, but hypomelanistic bearded dragons have low melanin levels, making them very light-colored. They are usually white or muted yellow and have yellow, white, or clear nails.
They may have patterns and markings, but they cannot develop dark colors. Their body type and spike pattern resemble the classic morph bearded dragons.
3. Amelanistic Morph
Amelanistic bearded dragons are also known as albino bearded dragons. They have no melanin, so their scales are white without patterns, and their eyes will be pink or red. If the eyes are not pink or red, the beardie is a hypomelanistic morph variety.
4. Zero Morph
The zero morph is a subcategory of the hypomelanistic morph. These bearded dragons are completely white, except for some, which have a little black near their shoulders.
5. Microscale Morph
Microscale bearded dragons do not have scales or spikes along their back or sides and often are more brightly colored because of that. However, they have scales and spikes on their head.
6. Leatherback Morph
This morph causes the beardie to have no spikes or scales along their back, causing their colors to be brighter than other beardies since the spikes and scales are not impeding the colors underneath. Leatherback bearded dragons have spikes and scales along their sides and head.
7. Silkback/Scaleless Morph
This morph is one of the most unique because silkback bearded dragons have no spikes or scales. Their skin is smooth and soft, and they can be easily injured. They have brighter colors than other beardies because there are no spikes or scales to interfere with their underlying color.
8. Translucent Morph
This morph causes the lizard to have translucent scales and spikes. They tend to be hypomelanistic but can be just about any color and pattern morph. These bearded dragon colors are usually white or blue when young, but the color will change as they age. They also typically have black or very dark eyes with irises that are very difficult to see.
9. Dunner Morph
The dunner morph is easily confused with the classic morph. They differ in that dunner bearded dragons have asymmetrical markings with no discernible pattern, unlike classic bearded dragons, which usually have symmetrical markings.
They may have spots instead of the stripes seen in classic beardies. Their scales and spikes may also point in different directions.
10. German Giant Morph
This morph usually is not recognized until the bearded dragon is fully grown. German giant bearded dragons are the largest variety of beardies and can grow over 16 inches long. They look like classic bearded dragons until later in life. They tend to be aggressive and lay extremely large clutches of eggs.
11. Witblit Morph
As another subcategory of the hypomelanistic morph, witblit bearded dragons are light-colored but rarely white. This morph usually displays dull, light pastels, tans, or grays. They have no patterns anywhere on their bodies.
12. Wero Morph
A crossbreeding of the zero and witblits morphs created the wero morph. These dragons are very similar to zeros, with black near their shoulders and some dark areas near the base of the tail.
13. Paradox
Since paradox coloration is an anomaly and is not known to be connected to a specific gene, it is not considered a morph. These bearded dragons hatch out as solid-colored, but over time, they develop patterns across their bodies that are unique to each paradox bearded dragon. These patterns are usually brightly colored.
Bearded Dragon Colors
Bearded dragons come in multiple color morphs, including tan, orange, yellow, red, white, green, blue, and violet. Out of these colors, they come in the following shades: beige, brown, citrus, tangerine, sunburst, lemon, gold, sandfire, blood, ruby, grey, silver, and olive. These color and shade morphs can be combined with other size, scale, and shape morphs.
Final Thoughts on the Different Types of Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons are fascinating creatures! With a wide range of species and an even wider selection of mutations and morphologies, there’s sure to be a size and shape to fit your lifestyle. We hope you enjoyed this guide to all the known species of bearded dragons!
Related Reads:
- Bearded Dragon vs Leopard Gecko: Which Pet is Best for You? (With Pictures)
- Why Is My Bearded Dragon Not Eating? Should I Worry? (Vet Answer)
Featured Image Credit: Manuel De Simone, Flickr
