Can Bearded Dragons Recognize Fake Lizards? (And Why It Matters)

Can bearded dragons recognize fake lizards, or are their reactions more about instinct than recognition? It’s a question that sparked the curiosity of scientists Frohnwieser et al., (2018).

Guess what? These scientists found out that bearded dragons can recognize fake lizards!

Testing if Bearded Dragons Recognize Fake Lizards

What Happens when Bearded Dragons see their Reflection in a Mirror?

Now, if you’ve ever held up a mirror to your bearded dragon, you know they can react in funny ways. Some freeze, staring at their reflection like it’s an intruder.

Some beardies seeing themselves in the mirror go full-on defensive, puffing their beard and bobbing their head, trying to figure out if this new “bearded dragon” is friend or foe.

But what is it that our beardies are seeing in the mirror? Is it their color? Perhaps their shape? Or maybe it’s staring into their own eyes. Or, could it be the movement? Exactly how do they decide what’s real and what’s not?

So that then also begs the question, can bearded dragons recognize fake lizards, like toys, or do they somehow know their reflection in the mirror is a real lizard even though they can’t get to it?

The Birth of the Robot Lizard Fool to see if it can Fool our Bearded Dragons

So, Frohnwieser et al., (2018) on the mission to find out if a robot lizard fools our bearded dragons, had to first make up some criteria as to what may make the difference to recognizing what they are looking at. Like, what makes our bearded dragons think they’re staring at another of their kind? Is it the shape? The color? The movement? Or do they need a mix of these things to believe it?

They researchers started simple, testing abstract shapes, then moved on to realistic 3D-printed models, some painted in natural colors, others left plain.

For the grand finale, they rolled out robotic lizards—ones that could mimic real bearded dragon moves, like head bobbing. And this wasn’t just guesswork—this whole setup was built on years of research into how animals recognize and respond to others of their kind. Their mission? To find out what features make our if our bearded dragons recognize fake lizards.

Scientists Focused on 4 Key Features with their Fake Lizard

So how can we test if a bearded dragon can recognize a fake lizard or not? Researchers decided to test this they needed to focus on four key features to see what mattered most:

Shape: Would a bearded dragon react differently to a model that looked like them versus a random object?
Eyes: Does adding eyes to a model make it more convincing?
Color: Does natural coloration make a fake lizard seem more real?
Movement: Does the ability to mimic behavior—like head bobbing—change the game?

Now to Test what Caught Their Eye: Shape, Eyes, Color or Movement

What did the scientists discover? Movement was the big winner! Here is what happened:

The scientists looked into whether shape impacts bearded dragons recognizing fake lizards. So, they showed the bearded dragons objects like a bottle, a paper roll, a piece of wood, and a rectangular cardboard box. Each object was spray-painted white to standardize the color, making them as neutral as possible. Then they tried a realistic lizard-shaped replica. But it turns out that bearded dragons didn’t seem too picky about whether the model looked like them or not.
Do fake eyes make a difference? The scientist tried adding eyes by cutting out eyes of photographs of real bearded dragons and sticking them on the model. Still the bearded dragons didn’t care.
Then they tried color. The researchers tested models painted in natural colors and plain gray ones. Turns out, bearded dragons didn’t care much about color. There was no puffing of beards, bobbing of heads or any other signs the bearded dragons recognized another lizard.
Bingo, they hit the jackpot, movement! The scientists kept the robotic lizard plain, no eyes, no color but of course it had a beardies shape. Frohnwieser et al., (2018) set up the robotic bearded dragon to do some head bobs and ooo boy did the male beardies react! The male bearded dragons started treating the fake lizard like a rivals, puffing up and even approaching to assert dominance.

Bearded Dragons Reacting to Robotic Lizard: Boys vs. The Girls

So, the robotic fake bearded dragon had the boys and girls reacting very differently—and it’s not hard to guess which gender took things personally.

Turns out, the male bearded dragons recognized the fake lizard (robot) as competition. The second the robotic lizard started head bobbing, the male bearded dragons puffed up their beards, bobbed their own heads, and even approached the robot, ready to assert their dominance. It was like watching them say, “Not on my watch, buddy!”

The females, on the other hand? They weren’t as impressed. Sure, they noticed the movement, but instead of gearing up for a territorial showdown, they seemed to shrug it off. It was as if they were saying, “Eh, not my problem.” Their reactions suggest that while males see movement as a challenge, females may be less reactive unless the situation involves mating or other significant interactions.

This fascinating difference highlights how males and females perceive their world—and how they prioritize threats and opportunities differently.

What Does It Matter to Us if Bearded Dragons Recognize Fake Lizards?

Knowing that bearded dragons recognize fake lizards means we know what grabs their attention and sparks their instincts.

For example, this research shows that movement plays a huge role in how bearded dragons perceive the world. Toys or enrichment activities that mimic natural behaviors—like head bobbing or other types of motion—can keep your beardie entertained and engaged. It’s not just about keeping them active; it’s about creating experiences that feel meaningful to them.

At the end of the day, learning how bearded dragons see and react to their surroundings helps us understand their needs better. Whether it’s choosing the right toy, designing their habitat, or simply watching their unique behaviors, this insight makes us better caretakers for our beardies.

Conclusion: The Final Word on Bearded Dragons and Fake Lizards

So, bearded dragons can recognize fake lizards if they are moving. Beardies don’t seem too concerned with shape, color, or even eyes, movement—especially behaviors like head bobbing—grabs their attention, particularly for males who see it as a direct challenge.

For us as pet owners, this research gives us valuable insight into how bearded dragons perceive their surroundings. It shows us the importance of providing enrichment that taps into their natural instincts, like toys or activities that mimic real-life interactions.

More great articles on bearded dragon anatomy and biology here.