Hello all, my name is Ken Clark. I am a long time herpetoculturist and former commercial breeder. Due to my nine year old daughter, Sarah, and her desire to own something less temperamental than her blood python we(I) have gotten back into bearded dragons. And I am glad I did. The translucent, smoothback, and silkback morphs have totally aroused my interest in recessive and co-dominant traits in reptiles. But here's a question I've always wondered but never asked; Why have bearded dragons developed the "epaulettes" above their shoulders? What form/function does this protuberence have? Since it seems the same color and size in both females and males I don't believe it is a form of sexual dimorphism, or way to distinguish groups/members in a social hierarchy. So does anyone have any interesting ideas or scientific facts in this?
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"epaulette" evolution??
Replies (7)
I have never known their use either, but I have also wondered i have 7 beardies and breed sometimes. I've never read any info about their purpose... interesting
however, I am a French Teacher and "epaule" means "shoulder" in French... but you probably already know that if you knew that word.. lol
kristen
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4.2 Bearded dragons (Lee,Stumpy,Blackie,Spazz,Lynn,Charlotte)
1 Egyptian Uromastyx (Niles)
1 Iguana (Gia)
Though I have not scientific facts on what these 'spots' are for, other than designs (though they are present in every dragon morph I have seen, except snows, which have such reduced melamine they are not visible), what I think their purpose is to represent 'eyes'.
Aerial predators (ie birds) may see them as big black eyes looking up at them and assume they have been 'spotted' so won't attack. (doubt it actually works but many moths have similar 'eyes', not to mention cobras often have them present on their 'hoods'.
They may play a role in territorial displays...the black beard with head bobbing on one side, the dark spots on the back...though I think this is less likely has the spots don't darken or show more prominently other than the flaps of skin may be spread out more at the time.
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PHLdyPayne
the epaulette was created in the mid 80's by these guys, in order to spruce up their fancy jean jackets. i don't know what Beardeds use them for, but the must have stole the idea from Bon Jovi...
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robyn@proexotics.com
LOL
Though originally they were used as indicators of rank in the French Army...long before Bon Jovi decided to use them to decorate their jean jackets 
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PHLdyPayne
Robyn, that is hilarious!! Are you guys still working with Gilas? That is my next project. Tell Chad good luck this season.
Ken
Link
I cant say what the purpose of them is but I do recall reading somewhere that only the Inland Bearded Dragons have them..
thats a good question. i think it may have something to do with being related to the frilled dragon. they are of the same order and family as the frillies, and they are found on the same continent/country, so i was thinking it could possibly be something of that nature.
