Before purchasing any pet it is important to understand that as a pet owner you are responsible for the care and wellbeing of your pet. It is important to try and learn as much as you can about the animal you are considering to keep as a pet to make sure that your lifestyle, household and financial status are suited to provide your pet with the best possible care. This guide has been designed to provide you with both precise and concise information about a bearded dragon's basic needs to help you provide your pet with the best quality care practices. The name 'bearded dragon' refers to a genus of reptiles which contains eight lizard species. The scientific name for this genus is 'Pogona' and they are also colloquially referred to as 'beardies.' The lizards within the genus gained the name 'bearded dragon' due to the extraordinary 'beard' located on the underside of the lizard's throat. In the wild bearded dragons can commonly be found basking on rocks or on the branches of trees due to the species adept ability to climb. They are found throughout Australia in a wide range of habitats ranging from deserts to shrubland and woodlands. Due to their hardy nature and interesting appearance bearded dragons have become a very popular pet and are fairly easy to care for in comparison to other exotic lizard species.