Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
The omnivorous bearded dragons of Australia derive their popular name from their spiny throats, which they can turn black and inflate when threatened or when attracting mates. They inhabit a variety of habitats from woodlands to deserts and will bask on fences and rooftops as readily as rocks and trees.
CollectA does not specify which of the six species of Pogona their 2012 toy is meant to represent, but I think it is safe to say that it is the central bearded dragon (P. vitticeps), as it is one of the most popular pet reptiles in the world. It is sculpted in a resting pose with its tail curled to the left and its head raised, making it a bit over 13 cm long.
This beardie is coloured light brown on top and light grey on bottom, with lots of grey spots and beige stripes. Its spines are also beige, its claws are dark brown, and its eyes are glossy black. Exactly as a central beardie is usually coloured, although years of selective breeding have produced many morphs.
The beardie’s tail is relatively short and flattened. The legs are fairly large and powerful, and terminate in long toes with pointed claws. The head is large and spade-shaped when seen from above, with a very wide mouth. Beardies mainly consume plant matter, but will also gulp down insects, spiders, worms, and smaller reptiles and mammals. Captive ones are fed crickets, mealworms, and hornworms when they are young, but adults should be given a diet consisting of 20% invertebrates and 80% plants including leafy greens, vegetables, and fruits.
The beardie’s head also features multiple rows of small spines on its cranium and larger spines on its throat. More large spines are running along either side of the very wide, somewhat flattened torso. The scales range from flat, diamond-shaped ones on the head and legs to round and bumpy ones on the back and tail.
Unlike many other CollectA toys, this one is made of soft, flexible PVC, particularly its legs and tail. One need never worry about it being damaged, let alone broken, from an accidental fall. Nor is there any need to worry about being pricked by the spines, even when you squeeze the toy tightly.
Overall, the CollectA bearded dragon is a well-sculpted and appealing toy. Certainly worth getting.
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Blog Comment CreationGreat review—this figure really does capture the laid-back posture that bearded dragons are known for. I appreciated the note about the coloration matching wild-type P. vitticeps, especially since so many morphs dominate the pet trade now. It’s always nice to see representations that stick close to nature.