Bearded dragons are classified within the genus Pogona, and there are seven species.Bearded dragons became famous as exotic pets since their introduction in the ’90s in the United States. Being the most popular pets, central bearded dragons are most commonly kept in captivity.The bearded dragon has a flattened body with clusters and rows covering it and a broad, triangular head. A head-bobbing display in bearded dragons is a sign of dominance, and hand-waving is a sign of submission. Some bearded dragon species can change colors while fighting, especially in males, a response to changes in ambient temperature like absorbing heat to turn black. A healthy diet and care are necessary to keep your bearded dragon’s vision in check and sharp. If not cleaned regularly, their eyes will get infected by fungus or bacteria, causing severe health issues in your pet. Bearded dragon’s sight is better than humans’ as their eyes are located on the side of their head.Bearded dragons go through brumation, where they will go hungry for months but will drink water. All of these species can go dormant at high temperatures and brumate in winter. The body of these reptiles cannot stay active in high temperatures and it will also cause death. They will burrow underground. They will usually form a permanent hiding place or burrow to escape harsh weather and predators.If you enjoyed reading these facts about the bearded dragon third eye, then make sure to read some more interesting facts about bearded dragon colors and bearded dragon eggs here at Kidadl.Do bearded dragons have a third eye?Yes, bearded dragons do have a third eye known as the parietal eye.The third eye is present in many reptiles and amphibians as it is a feature retained from their ancestors. As per the bearded dragon’s third eye anatomy, it is located between the prefrontal and frontal bone that connects with a specific gland on top of the bearded dragon’s head.Bearded dragons’ third eye is completely different from their normal eyes. However, like the dragon’s normal eyes, the third eye (also called the parietal eye) has a retina and lens but not an iris, so it looks a lot different to normal eyes. New bearded dragon owners can find this as a small grey mark on top of your bearded dragon’s head covered in transparent scale. A bearded dragon cannot see through the third eye, it has different functions. In the prehistoric era, these lizards had four eyes, that is two parietal eyes and two normal ones. As bearded dragons evolved their third eyes got pushed closer towards the top of their head. The fourth eye of these lizards became their vestigial organ and fused with their counterpart that created the third eye. The third eye connects directly to the brain though through the skull’s tiny hole. Bearded dragons do not use their third eye to see because it sends all signals to the pineal gland and not the optic center of their brain.What is the parietal eye?The parietal eye, also called, third eye, solar eye, or pineal eye is an element of the epithalamus present in some amphibians, reptiles, and fish.The parietal eye or third eye is photoreceptive and situated on top of the head. The third eye is connected to the pineal gland that regulates the hormone production and circadian rhythmicity for thermoregulation. The third eye or parietal eye is found in most lizards, salamanders, frogs, lampreys, certain bony fishes, and sharks. It is currently not present in any mammal, however, closest relatives and extinct species, therapsids had it, which means that it was lost during mammalian evolution as it had no use in endothermic species. It is absent in archosaurs and turtles including crocodilians and birds and their ancestors. The partial eye is not readily visible as it is always covered by skin. vertebral fossils like placoderms, ostracoderms, early tetrapods, and crossopterygian had a skull socket that looked like a third eye. The parietal in reptiles and amphibians are placed in a far forward position of the skull, unlike the pineal gland in humans that is placed far away from this location, between the cerebellum and corpus callosum. There is a single eye present on the nauplius stage of crustaceans. Brine shrimp species will retain their primary eye and are three-eyed when they are adults.Your pet bearded dragon will spend most of his time within the enclosure of the tank. So, many owners think that the dragon is away from stress and predators and will not think about the eye. However, the owners must know about the bearded dragon’s third eye. Whenever you try to pick your bearded dragon from the head you will notice that he will come under stress and try to escape from your grip. The reason behind this is your shadow falls on their third eye and the dragon will think that a predator is trying to catch him and he will immediately flee.The Function Of The Third EyeThe function of the bearded dragon’s third eye is to detect light, shade differences, and temperature. It acts as an internal clock, regulates biological processes, provides a sense of direction, and senses predators.A bearded dragon’s third eye has different functions from its normal two eyes. The third eye makes it easier to sense predators. They can sense the presence of any predator using the parietal eye or third eye. So, these lizards cannot see if predators are above them but they detect the shadow above them by noticing a change in light. In the wild, bearded dragons usually run away and hide if they detect a shadow on top of them. They tend to do this if they sense anyone’s shadow, be it a predator or not. Bearded dragons are naturally territorial lizards. They can easily get back to their territory if they get stranded. To get back to their home bearded dragons use their third eye to guide them. So, they can travel far away and return home without any trouble without their third eye being covered. Research states that when the parietal eye gets covered it is difficult and sometimes impossible for them to get back home. Even with their normal eyes working bearded dragons can just see the way they are traveling but cannot return without the help of their parietal eye. The parietal eyes of bearded dragons have a vital role in the biological process. You now know the parietal eye is associated with the brain’s pineal gland. The parietal eye and the gland together are called pineal complex and they are also photosensitive. The pineal gland secret hormones such as melatonin that regulate the wake and sleep cycle, on the basis of the time of the day. The time of the day is detected by an internal clock set by the pineal complex, influencing hormone production. So, the third eye of your bearded dragon is important for detecting light and dark (shadow) for thermoregulation and the production of hormones. So, it also helps them regulate the required amount of light to avoid excessive activity that could shorten the life of your pet.How to prevent third eye damage?To prevent third eye damage do not shine direct sunlight on it, providing natural sunlight, automatic light adjustments, no light at night, and both natural and artificial light.It is better to get a tank enclosure that has front doors and this way you will not be putting your bearded dragon under stress every time you approach them. Even though enclosure with front doors can get expensive, it is a worthy investment. Your beardie will not be startled every time you approach him. While picking up your beardies, make sure to pick them up through their belly by putting your hands below them and also supporting their legs and tail. You can then pick up your beardie calmly without bending over creating a shadow. Be on your guard while handling your beardie as he might jump out of your hand. Do not provide light in your bearded dragon tank at night. Your bearded dragon can detect any kind of light, even infrared and ultraviolet. If there is a white or red light in the enclosure at night then your beardie will not sleep properly. In the day, however, you can fix bright white light that is placed far away from the reach of your beardie. The third eye can measure the photoperiod of the light hence keeping track of the light and dark in a day. Light also impacts the biological clock of your beardie. So, bright light in the day is highly important for beardies. You can either provide artificial light in the enclosure or you can also expose them to natural sunlight. However, keep in mind that alternating between natural light and artificial light can stress out some beardies. It is also possible for the sunlight to impact something in the pineal eye of a domestic beardie. Automatic lighting cycles that also have a timer will improve the functioning of the third eye of your beardie.Avoid putting your bearded dragon under any kind of stress in any situation. Stress can harm their health and impact their life. Also, handle your beardie with the utmost care and love.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestion for bearded dragon third eye, then why not take a look at bearded dragon gender or bearded dragon teeth?
Bearded dragons are classified within the genus Pogona, and there are seven species.
