When this little lizard was born earlier in October, it was just 55 millimetres long and weighed half a gram.
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Size-wise, it's no big deal. In a conservation sense, though, the tiny creature is huge.
This Canberra grassland earless dragon is one of the first two hatchlings ever captive-bred at a zoo.
Melbourne Zoo started receiving grassland earless dragons from the ACT's wild populations about nine months ago as part of a captive breeding program aimed at boosting numbers of the endangered species, which is now more rare than tigers and pandas.
The gravity of the situation became clear earlier this year when scientists discovered the grassland earless dragon found in Canberra is one of four unique species, distinct from other populations once found as far away as Victoria.
ACT Parks and Conservation Service ecologist Dr Brett Howland recently told the Sunday Canberra Times the population of Canberra grassland earless dragons had declined by 90 or perhaps even 95 per cent in the past 15 years.
This was mainly because of habitat loss that resulted from drought conditions, overgrazing, climate change and African lovegrass invasions.
Conservationists have taken to artificially creating burrows in some of the ACT's last remaining high-quality habitat areas, like the Jerrabomberra Valley, to help the lizards survive in the wild.
In a bid to make sure the species is not lost, the ACT Parks and Conservation Service is now working with Melbourne Zoo and the University of Canberra to breed this unique species of grassland earless dragon in captivity.
The aim is to eventually release some of the captive-bred animals into the wild, with another ACT-based program soon to be established at Tidbinbilla.
Melbourne Zoo ectotherms keeper Alex Mitchell said the zoo still had a number of Canberra grassland earless dragon eggs in the incubator at Reptile House, which has transformed from an exhibition space to an animal conservation hub over its 50-year history.
"It's very exciting. The young that have hatched out are doing really well," Mr Mitchell said.
"They have started feeding and are growing.
"They are definitely a very shy species. But they are an inquisitive little dragon as well - constantly active, moving around and exploring their environment."
The small dragons are light brown, with white stripes running down their body and darker bands across their back. Unlike most lizards, they don't have external ear openings.
Fully grown grassland earless dragons reach a maximum length of 150 millimetres, which is about the same size as an average teaspoon. Adults generally weigh between 5 and 9 grams.
In captivity, they can live for up to five years and produce at least one viable clutch of eggs each year for three years. In the wild, their life expectancy is lower.
