Why the frilled lizard pops its frill

The frilled lizard is a lizard from Australia and New Guinea. Around its neck it has a big flap of skin called a frill. When the lizard is scared, it can suddenly pop this frill out so it looks much bigger.

Step-by-step: what happens

1. Something scary comes near the lizard (a bigger animal or a person).
2. The lizard opens its mouth wide and breathes fast.
3. Muscles pull the skin so the frill flips out from around the neck.
4. The lizard may stand tall, hiss, and wave its frill so it looks bigger and louder.
5. If the other animal gets scared, it might go away. If not, the lizard runs away very fast, often up a tree.

Why this works

Many animals leave other animals alone if they look big or dangerous. The frill is like a surprise trick to make the lizard seem too big to eat.

Fun facts

• Baby frilled lizards can pop their frill, too.
• The frill opens in less than a second.
• People say the lizard looks like a little dinosaur when it spreads its frill.

Remember: if you see a wild lizard, watch quietly from a distance. Do not touch it — that keeps you and the lizard safe.