Speciesism

Speciesism may occur towards bearded dragons versus other species due to their appearance. Because they lack that big, round-eyed, furry haired look, many people will discredit them for being good pets, and will more than likely overlook them when searching for small animals in the pet store. It is in human’s nature to admire an animal with the “juvenile-like” look (big, round eyes, flattened, broadened face, etc.) because these are the same characteristics human babies contain. People naturally want to own and take care of animals that look like babies. A great example of this is an occurrence at the humane society at which I volunteer at during the school year. This humane society takes in rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. on a weekly basis, and these small animals get adopted out fairly quickly. I have noticed that these species usually find new homes within a couple weeks. At the beginning of the school year, a bearded dragon came in and was put up for adoption. I observed that it was fair-tempered and very healthy. It is common for infrequent species that come in to get adopted out extremely quick because of their rarity there. Unfortunately, this was not the case. It took the beardie quite a few months of getting overlooked to finally find a home. It takes mice and rats multiple months to find homes too. I believe this is a case of speciesism and adopters naturally being drawn to juvenile characteristics that bearded dragons (and mice and rats!) just do not have.

Ethology

Ethology: Although no studies or experiments could be found, there are a wide variety of behaviors bearded dragons display that owners/breeders/reptile specialists have come to associate with emotion. One behavior bearded dragons are known for is “black bearding.” The neck and chin area will puff out and turn a shade of black. This behavior often occurs when one feels “threatened” or “uncomfortable,” such as a male coming in contact with another male or with an unknown or large animal.

They also are known to “wave” their arms, especially young dragons. The dragon will lift one of its arms, and wave it around in a circular motion. Most often, you will see young beardies or females waving to other larger bearded dragons or other animal species. Many believe this is a sign of recognition of the other, and possibly a sign of submission.

These behaviors are useful to their survival. The “black bearding” is useful because it makes the bearded dragon look bigger and more threatening. This will cause predators to think twice about going after it. The “waving” behavior is also useful because it helps show submission within the species. If an individual shows submission, there is less likely to be a fight between two dragons and consequently less likely of an altercation to end in death.

http://www.petuniversity.com/reptiles/lizards/species/bearded-dragon/natural-history.htm

Current Social Perceptions

The bearded dragon’s classification, along with appearance, keeps many people from familiarizing themselves with this creature. On top of being a reptile, the bearded dragon has maintained a rather “dinosaur” or “prehistoric” look which turns away most people. In no way do these animals have the furry, juvenile appearance as our fellow cats and dogs do. Therefore, the average person who knows nothing about the bearded dragon probably has a negative perception towards it just through appearance. On the other hand, people who have heard even the slightest on them most likely have a positive perception towards the species. They are known for their gentle nature and their acceptance (and possible enjoyment) for human companionship. Families often choose a beardie when searching for a small, manageable pet for their children.

http://www.thebeardeddragon.org/bearded-dragon.php#ixzz2fOUAeCsK

Social History/Domestication

In their natural habitat of Southern Australia, the bearded dragon is often seen basking on plant life or just walking around. The native people and vacationers can easily sense a pleasant disposition in their presence. In the late 1900’s, they were introduced into the exotic pet trade, and by the 1990’s, through out of the country smuggling, their population had boomed in the United States. Today, you can find them in any major U.S. pet store. Some factors contributing to their explosive popularity in the U.S. are their hardiness, their easiness to breed, and of course their calm and agreeable personalities. Today, all bearded dragons in America have been born to dragons inside the country. Smuggling is no longer necessary to keep these exotic animals in pet stores.

http://www.youngzine.org/article-u-write/bearded-dragons-facts-and-history

http://www.thebeardeddragon.org/bearded-dragon.php#ixzz2fOUj0Yv9