Adults of this species usually grow to be about two feet in length, with the tail accounting for over half of the total body length.
Bearded dragons vary widely in colour, including brown, grey, reddish-brown, red, yellow, white, orange, but there is yet to be a green bearded dragon. They are capable of undergoing moderate changes in the shade of their colour to help regulate temperature. The specialized scales along both sides of the throat, neck, and head form many narrow spines which run down the side of the body to the tail. When feeling threatened, a bearded dragon will flatten its body against the ground, puff out its spiny throat, and open its jaws to make itself appear larger.