Agama

Yes. The bearded dragons are Australian members of the family Agamidae, in the genus Pogona, so they are agamids, and the words agama and dragon lizard are both used for the family as a whole. The name agama in the narrower sense is often reserved for the African and Middle Eastern rock-dwelling species in the genus Agama, the ones seen doing push-ups on walls and boulders, but that is a matter of common usage rather than a real division. The bearded dragon, the frilled lizard, the water dragons, the sailfin lizards, the thorny devil, the flying dragons, and the uromastyx spiny-tailed lizards are all agamids.

They are on opposite sides of the world and only distantly related, but they look alike because they do similar jobs. Agamas are the family Agamidae, native to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a corner of Europe, while iguanas are the family Iguanidae and their relatives, native to the Americas with a few in Madagascar and Fiji. The clearest internal difference is the teeth. Agamas have acrodont teeth, fused to the top edge of the jaw and not replaced, whereas iguanas have pleurodont teeth attached to the inner side of the jaw and replaced continuously through life. In lifestyle, both groups include sun-basking insect and plant eaters, territorial displaying males, and some spectacular specialists.

The push-up display, often combined with head bobbing, arm waving, and colour change, is how a male agama communicates without a sound. From a prominent perch such as a rock, wall, or fence post, he signals to rival males that the territory is occupied and that he is willing to fight, and to females that he is present and in breeding condition. The rhythm and intensity of the bobbing carry information about his size and vigour, so a rival can often judge whether a fight is worth starting from the display alone. Females and juveniles also bob, sometimes as a submissive signal that says they are not a threat.

The bearded dragon is widely regarded as one of the best pet lizards, being docile, active by day, tolerant of handling, and undemanding once its needs are met, which are a large enclosure, a hot basking spot, strong UVB lighting, and a mixed diet of insects and vegetables that shifts toward more plants with age. Other agamids vary. Water dragons and uromastyx can be kept but need specific humidity or heat, and many wild-type agamas are nervous, fast, and best watched rather than held. As with all reptiles, buying captive-bred animals avoids supporting the collection of wild agamas for the trade.