Rosy future for dragon in Hastings

An East Sussex teenager had the unexpected privilege of officially naming a dragon at Hastings Blue Reef Aquarium over the weekend.

Becky Vaughan, from Polegate, was visiting the Rock-a-Nore Road wildlife attraction with her family when they came across one of the aquarists holding a bearded dragon as part of a meet the creatures hands-on encounter.

During the presentation, Blue Reef aquarist Rob Gasson asked 15-year-old Becky if she would like to hold the lizard.

Blue Reef’s David Stock said: “I happened to be passing at the time and casually asked Rob what the lizard was called.

“He said she didn’t have a name and, as Becky was holding here at the time, I asked her what she’d like to call it.

“She had a bit of a think and decided on ‘Rosy’ and so from now on that’s her name.

“It’s not something we do as a routine but I thought it was a good idea and it’s definitely something Becky and her family will remember.

“I’m now checking to see whether our other bearded dragons don’t have names either and, if that is the case, we’ll be surprising a few more visitors in the coming days to come up with their own names,” he added.

Bearded dragon lizards are native to Australia. They live in rocky and arid regions of the country and dry open woodlands. Fully grown adults can reach lengths in excess of half a metre and weigh around 600 grammes.

Their common name comes from their habit of puffing out their throat when they are angry or excited, giving the appearance of a ‘beard’.

The beard is thought to make the lizard look larger to potential foes. In the wild bearded dragons will escape from potential danger by standing up on their back legs and ‘running’ away.