Varanus varius

The monitor variegated ( Varanus varius ) (in English Laces Monitor or Lace Goanna ) Australian Goanna is a .

Description

This lizard reaches 2 meters and more. The skin is covered with white spots and/or bands. The tail is long and thin (from where its English name which means lace). It measures approximately once and half the length of the remainder of the corps.
It is the second largest reptile of Australia after Varanus giganteus , which is the largest reptile after the Varan de Komodo.

Behavior

Climbing occasionally with the trees, he attends at the same time the zones buissonnantes, the edges and the forests open and closed. He can traverse up to 3 kilometers by jour.
He is more active from September with mai.
He spends his times of inactivity in a fresher shelter (cavity of tree or rock, Deadwood, under a fallen tree, a large rock…).

Reproduction

The females lay from 4 to 14 eggs in spring or in summer, in nests of termite.

Distribution

It is mainly coastal.

Food

It consumes mainly insects and invertebrates, other reptiles, small mammals, birds and eggs of oiseaux.
It is only towards 2005 that researchers showed that certain monitors, of which the Perenti monitor, and some iguanas were poisonous. It was thought before that their bite poisoned their preys because of the bacteria living in the mouths of these lizards.

Like all the Australian goannas, this lizard was one of preferred traditional food of the Australian indigenous people . Their grease was used in particular in traditional medicine and in certain ceremonies.

See too

Lizard
Varan

External bonds

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