Additionally, they can slightly raise the pointed scales that run along either side of their throat, neck, head and torso by inhaling air into their lungs to maximum capacity, thus appearing larger to predators.

The sharp-looking growths and protrusions are, in actuality, quite soft and delicate to the touch, but may be off-putting to predators such as birds of prey, foxes, feral dogs or dingos.

The guttural pouch is what essentially earns the species its nickname of "beardie", and can darken in color when threatened or during courtship or territorial displays.

The bearded dragon, like most agamid lizards, has strong legs which enable it to lift its body completely off the ground while it moves.

This unique feature is responsible for thermoregulation and hormone regulation, and possibly helps the lizards make decisions based on the seasons, weather, etc.

[8] A March 2020 study of the central bearded dragon found that light-dependent magnetoreception occurs when light with a wavelength under 580 nanometers enters the parietal eye.

They often spend the mornings and early evenings sunning themselves on exposed branches or rocks, and retreat to shady areas or burrows during the hottest parts of the afternoon.

Their stomachs are large enough to accommodate significant quantities of vegetation, fruits, insects, worms, and the occasional small rodent or lizard.

[citation needed] An analysis of their summer diet as wild adults revealed that 26% of the food ingested (by volume) was Drepanotermes termite alates, which are only seasonally available.

At these times, a distinct hierarchy will emerge: the highest-ranking animals will take the best – usually the highest or sunniest – basking spots, and all other individuals arrange themselves lower down.

An experiment demonstrated that after one individual was trained to open a door to reach a food item, most other bearded dragons watching this action were able to perform it as well.

The anti-exportation policies in Australia also ensures that bearded dragons (and indeed all Australian species found abroad) are not forcibly taken or poached from the wild and shipped around the globe via the black market—as is the case with Madagascar's rare and sensitive chameleons, geckos and frogs, for example.

However, captive bearded dragons worldwide are threatened by Agamid adenovirus, an HIV-like virus that compromises the immune system of the animal, and leads to death from other diseases.

As with nearly all reptiles and amphibians, captive bearded dragons are commonly susceptible to metabolic bone disease (MBD) if not provided with adequate calcium in the diet, a condition similar to human osteoporosis.

Additionally, they may be at-risk of constipation or digestive impactions from inadvertently ingesting decorative sand, gravel or even insects that are inappropriately sized for them to consume.