A Merten's water monitor. Want a closer look? Check out More Dragon and Monitor Photos. Enhance your experience: Watch Dragons in Action! To learn more about the zoo, check out The Australia Zoo in Depth. Ready for more? Head back to the Australia Zoo Map.

Several dragons live at the Australia Zoo, but not the kind that breathe smoke and fire. The zoo's eastern water dragons and eastern bearded dragons are relatively docile. They share an enclosure with a trio of Merten's water monitors.

The Australia Zoo has had to rehabilitate many of these lizards, which have unfortunately fallen victim to dogs, cats and cars.

Eastern water dragons live along watercourses in a variety of habitats in eastern Australia.

The eastern water dragon is cleverly adapted to a semi-aquatic life. Its laterally compressed tail serves as the perfect propeller, driving the lizard through the water with ease while it holds its limbs tightly against its body to reduce drag. The eastern water dragon is even able to remain submerged for over an hour!

After a swim, water dragons will often climb back into one of their trees, where they generally spend the majority of their time when not in the drink. They usually rest in branches that overhang water — a strategic position from which they can dive in when predators are about.

At the Australia Zoo, a sizable colony of eastern water dragons can be seen running about their enclosure when it's warm outside.

The Australia Zoo is home-sweet-home to a pair of eastern bearded dragons named Bonnie and Clyde.

Eastern bearded dragons are common in the woodlands and dry eucalypt forests of eastern Australia, and can also be found in suburban back yards.

They have a black throat frill, or "beard," which they use for defense. When severely threatened, the dragon will puff up, extend its beard and open its yellow-lined mouth as wide as it can. This behavior makes the lizard appear much bigger than it really is to potential predators.

There is a hierarchy among bearded dragons. Smaller dragons usually submit to larger ones. A submissive dragon will rotate its forelimbs in slow, precise circles — a gesture of submission. Aggressive dragons rotate their forelimbs quickly.

Three Merten's water monitors live among the dragons: Mr. Mert, Mrs. Mert and Fatty Mert. Mrs. Mert, 12, is an old and gentle lizard. Mr. Mert and Fatty Mert, both 8 years old, love swimming after food in their pond.

Interested in getting to know the Merten's water monitor a little better? Head on over to our Water Monitors exhibit for the full scoop.