Say G’Day to one of Australia’s finest – the Frill-Necked Lizard! Best known for the incredible ruff of colourful skin around its neck, these remarkable reptiles can be found sunbaking right across the Top End.

The trademark flaring of the frill is in fact a rarely-deployed defence mechanism utilised whenever the lizard is feeling threatened or frightened. It’s known as deimatic behaviour, which is science for ‘pretending to be tougher than you really are’, and involves a gaping mouth and raised body alongside the display of the frill. This little fella looked quite happy where he was, and I wasn’t going to disturb him, so that’s why his frill is folded down.

We did play a game of hide and seek though, with the lizard constantly running around to the other side of the trunk whenever I tried to take a picture – it was hilariously frustrating, but I got a few shots in the end.

Now the Frill-Necked Lizard is an Australian icon, but I reckon that’s only because we gave it such a good common name. You see, the scientific name for this lizard is Chlamydosaurus kingii, and personally, I think we should all start calling it ‘King Chlamydosaurus’.

Sure, old Frilly would probably prefer to keep his current name, but if there’s one thing Aussies love, it’s messing with tourists. Forget Drop Bears – imagine convincing that group of backpackers at the bar that the outback is swarming with STD-ridden dinosaurs.

Renaming the Frill-Necked Lizard isn’t just a good idea, it’s our patriotic duty.

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King Chlamydosaurus (Chlamydosaurus kingii), Litchfield National Park, Australia