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Two-lined dragons
Diporiphora - Gray, 1842

Pronunciation: DIE-por-IFF-er-ah
Etymology: 'two-pore-bearer', after the two femoral pores in the type species.

Taxonomic notes:

Notes:
Statistics: Reproductive modes:
Oviparous - 21 out of 21 Australian species

Size range:
Smallest Australian species: black-spined nobbi dragon (Diporiphora phaeospinosa) at cm
 Longest Australian species: mulga dragon (Diporiphora amphiboluroides) at 9.4 cm
Number of Australian species: 21
 

Carnarvon dragon (Diporiphora adductus)
Exmouth, Western Australia
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
Carnarvon dragon (Diporiphora adductus) distribution range map Diporiphora adductus
Carnarvon dragon
Year described
Doughty, Kealley & Melville 2012
Description
"A slender, medium-sized Diporiphora, with no gular or post-auricular folds, scapular fold absent or very weak (small scales present but skin not folded over), homogeneous dorsal scales with keels parallel to midline, no femoral pores, 0–2 precloacal pores, 61 or fewer mid-body scale rows, ventral scales larger than dorsal scales, coloration not yellow-green, and lateral line with dark border present."1

white-lipped two-lined dragon (Diporiphora albilabris)
Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia
Photo © Stephen Zozaya
white-lipped two-lined dragon (Diporiphora albilabris) distribution range map Diporiphora albilabris
White-lipped two-lined dragon
Year described
Storr 1974
Description
Gular and postauricular folds present. Scapular fold absent. Heterogenous dorsal scales; small dorsal and paravertebral scales, with dorsolateral row of enlarged and keeled scales.

Amelia's dragon (Diporiphora ameliae)
Valetta Station, Queensland
Photo © Angus Emmott
Amelia's dragon (Diporiphora ameliae) distribution range map Diporiphora ameliae
Amelia's dragon
Year described
Emmott, Couper, Melville & Chapple 2012
Description
A small dragon which usually has four longitudinal grey ventral stripes on a cream background. Throat and gular region with three distinctive dark V-shaped markings that converge anteriorly, with the middle two continuous with the ventral body pattern. "It has a bluntly rounded snout, a small postauricular fold bearing a series of small spines, a scapular fold, gular fold absent, usually 2 preanal pores on each side and no femoral pores. The scales on the dorsal surface of the head are strongly keeled as are those on the throat and ventral surface of the body. There is no distinctive axillary blotch. It has a single pleurodont tooth (canine) on the maxillary."2

mulga dragon (Diporiphora amphiboluroides)
Hamersley Range, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
mulga dragon (Diporiphora amphiboluroides) distribution range map Diporiphora amphiboluroides
Mulga dragon
Year described
(Lucas & Frost 1902)
Description

Arnhemland two-lined dragon (Diporiphora arnhemica)
Tablelands, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
Arnhemland two-lined dragon (Diporiphora arnhemica) distribution range map Diporiphora arnhemica
Arnhemland two-lined dragon
Year described
Storr 1974
Description
Postauricular fold present. Weak gular and scapular folds. One femoral pore on each leg.

tommy roundhead (Diporiphora australis)
Bringalily State Forest, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
tommy roundhead (Diporiphora australis) distribution range map Diporiphora australis
Tommy roundhead
Year described
(Steindachner 1867)
Description
Gular, postauricular, and scapular folds present. Dorsolateral row of enlarged scales.

robust two-lined dragon (Diporiphora bennettii)
Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
robust two-lined dragon (Diporiphora bennettii) distribution range map Diporiphora bennettii
Robust two-lined dragon
Year described
(Gray 1845)
Description
Weak gular fold. Scapular fold weak or absent. Postauricular fold present.

two-lined dragon (Diporiphora bilineata)
Lakefield National Park, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
two-lined dragon (Diporiphora bilineata) distribution range map Diporiphora bilineata
Two-lined dragon
Year described
Gray 1842
Description
Gular, postauricular, and scapular folds absent. Dorsolateral row of enlarged scales.

No thumbnail available Crystal Creek two-lined dragon (Diporiphora convergens) distribution range map Diporiphora convergens
Crystal Creek two-lined dragon
Year described
Storr 1974
Description

Lally's two-lined dragon (Diporiphora lalliae)
North Kimberley, Western Australia
Photo © Henry Cook
Lally's two-lined dragon (Diporiphora lalliae) distribution range map Diporiphora lalliae
Lally's two-lined dragon
Year described
Storr 1974
Description
Gular fold present. Scapular fold weak to moderate. Postauricular fold moderate (weak in Kimberley).

pink two-lined dragon (Diporiphora linga)
Streich Mound, Western Australia
Photo © Brad Maryan
pink two-lined dragon (Diporiphora linga) distribution range map Diporiphora linga
Pink two-lined dragon
Year described
Houston 1977
Description

yellow-sided two-lined dragon (Diporiphora magna)
Malbon, Queensland
Photo © Mark Sanders
yellow-sided two-lined dragon (Diporiphora magna) distribution range map Diporiphora magna
Yellow-sided two-lined dragon
Year described
Storr 1974
Description
Gular fold absent. Postauricular fold present (weak in Kimberley). Scapular fold weak to moderate.

nobbi dragon (Diporiphora nobbi)
Alpha, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
nobbi dragon (Diporiphora nobbi) distribution range map Diporiphora nobbi
Nobbi dragon
Year described
(Witten 1972)
Description

grey-striped western desert dragon (Diporiphora paraconvergens)
Southern Kimberley, Western Australia
Photo © Stephen Mahoney
grey-striped western desert dragon (Diporiphora paraconvergens) distribution range map Diporiphora paraconvergens
Grey-striped western desert dragon
Year described
Doughty, Kealley & Melville 2012
Description
Keels on posterior dorsal scales converge towards midline. Weak post-auricular fold. Two precloacal pores. No reduction of scale size on upper lateral region. Thin dark markings to either side of midline of gular region.1

black-spined nobbi dragon (Diporiphora phaeospinosa)
Blackdown Tablelands, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
black-spined nobbi dragon (Diporiphora phaeospinosa) distribution range map Diporiphora phaeospinosa
Black-spined nobbi dragon
Year described
Melville & Edwards 2011
Description

Pindan two-lined dragon (Diporiphora pindan)
Broome, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
Pindan two-lined dragon (Diporiphora pindan) distribution range map Diporiphora pindan
Pindan two-lined dragon
Year described
Storr 1979
Description
"A slender, small-bodied Diporiphora, with no gular or post-auricular folds, and a weak scapular fold, no crests on the forebody, homogeneous dorsal scales with keels parallel to midline, 0–4 precloacal pores, no femoral pores, 64 or more mid-body scale rows, <24 lamellae on the fourth toe, coloration not yellow-green, and usually with prominent dorsolateral stripes."1

plain-backed two-lined dragon (Diporiphora reginae)
Great Victoria Desert, Western Australia
Photo © Ray Lloyd
plain-backed two-lined dragon (Diporiphora reginae) distribution range map Diporiphora reginae
Plain-backed two-lined dragon
Year described
Glauert 1959
Description

superb two-lined dragon (Diporiphora superba)
Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
superb two-lined dragon (Diporiphora superba) distribution range map Diporiphora superba
Superb two-lined dragon
Year described
Storr 1974
Description

southern Pilbara tree dragon (Diporiphora valens)
Newman region, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
southern Pilbara tree dragon (Diporiphora valens) distribution range map Diporiphora valens
Southern Pilbara tree dragon
Year described
Storr 1979
Description
"A robust, medium-large Diporiphora, with gular and scapular folds, post-auricular fold weak, no crests on the forebody, homogeneous dorsal scales with keels parallel to midline, 2–4 precloacal pores, no femoral pores, 60 or fewer mid-body scale rows, 25 fourth toe lamellae, and with pale yellow dorsolateral stripes."1 Further distinguished from D. vescus sp. nov. by larger body size, more robust habitus, spinier scalation, slightly shorter limbs and tail, darker background color, more dark crossbands and a medial marking on gular region. 1

northern Pilbara tree dragon (Diporiphora vescus)
Wodgina, Western Australia
Photo © Jordan Vos
northern Pilbara tree dragon (Diporiphora vescus) distribution range map Diporiphora vescus
Northern Pilbara tree dragon
Year described
Doughty, Kealley & Melville 2012
Description
"A moderately robust, medium-sized Diporiphora, with gular and scapular folds, post-auricular fold weak, no crests on the forebody, homogeneous dorsal scales with keels parallel to midline, 2–4 precloacal pores, no femoral pores, 63 or more mid-body scale rows, 28 fourth toe lamellae, and with pale yellow dorsolateral stripes."1

canegrass dragon (Diporiphora winneckei)
Windorah, Queensland
Photo © Stewart Macdonald
canegrass dragon (Diporiphora winneckei) distribution range map Diporiphora winneckei
Canegrass dragon
Year described
Lucas & Frost 1896
Description
"A slender, medium-sized Diporiphora, with weak gular and post-auricular folds, strong scapular fold, no crests on the forebody, homogeneous dorsal scales with keels converging towards midline, upper lateral scales conspicuously reduced in size relative to surrounding scales, no precloacal or femoral pores, and gular region with wide medial dark marking."1

References
  1. Doughty, Paul; Kealley, Luke, L.; & Melville, Jane (2012). Taxonomic assessment of Diporiphora (Reptilia: Agamidae) dragon lizards from the western arid zone of Australia. Zootaxa, 3518:1-24.
  2. Couper, Patrick; Melville, Jane; Emmot, Angus; & Chapple, Stephanie N.J. (2012). A new species of Diporiphora from the Goneaway Tablelands of Western Queensland. Zootaxa, 3556:39-54.
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