Template:Cn Goannas and humans File:Lace-Monitor-Mount-Coot-tha-1.JPG The smell of rotting meat will attract these lizards. The giant perentie has been observed killing a young kangaroo, and then biting out chunks of flesh like a dog.Īll species are carrion eaters and will feed on the carcasses of dead animals, including livestock and other large creatures. Mertensi), birds, snails, smaller lizards, snakes, marsupials and other small mammals such as rodents.
Many of the medium to large species will feed on whatever prey items they can catch. Many of the small species feed mostly on insects, with some being small lizard experts. Meals are often eaten whole, and thus the size of their meal may depend on the size of the animals. Prey can include all manner of small animals: insects, smaller lizards, snakes, mammals, birds, and eggs. The diet of goannas varies greatly depending on the species and the habitat. Most other goannas are good swimmers, but tend not to voluntarily venture into the water. Further still, the Mertens' Water Monitor (Water goanna – Varanus mertensi), found in lagoons and rivers across northern Australia, is streamlined for swimming, using its tail as a paddle. Other goannas are adapted to swampy coastal environments such as the Mangrove goanna ( Varanus semiremex). Other more common tree goannas, such as the Timor tree monitor ( Varanus timorensis) and Mournful tree monitor ( Varanus tristis) do not grow to quite such lengths, averaging only a few feet nose to tail. The lace monitor is the second largest of all goannas, reaching lengths of up to 2 metres.
The lace monitor ( Varanus varius) is probably the best-known amongst these, but is not the most common. Most species are known to climb trees or outcrops there are plenty of primarily arboreal species.
Goannas are found throughout most of Australia, except for Tasmania, and manage to persist in a variety of environments. Goanna Lizard (Varanus varius), Kangaroo Island, South Australia Unlike other species of lizards, goannas do not have the ability to regrow limbs or tails. This offers protection and incubation additionally the termites may provide a meal for the young as they hatch. Most lay eggs in a nest or burrow, but some species lay their eggs inside termite mounds. Camouflage ranges from bands and stripes to splotches, speckles and circles, and can change as the creature matures, with juveniles sometimes being brighter than adults. Many desert-dwelling species also feature yellow-red tones. Most goannas are dark in colouration, whites, greys, browns, blacks and greens featuring prominently. Goannas have been blamed for the death of sheep by farmers, though most likely erroneously, as goannas are also eaters of carrion and are attracted to rotting meat. A goanna will prey upon any animal it can catch that is small enough to eat whole. Goannas combine predatory and scavenging behaviour. They survive on smaller prey such as insects and mice. The smallest of these, the short-tailed monitor ( Varanus brevicuda) reaches only 20 cm in length. Pygmy goannas may be smaller than a man's arm. The largest is the perentie ( Varanus giganteus), which can grow over 2m (78.7 inches) in length.Ī goanna in Toowoomba, Darling Downs, Queensland Being predatory lizards, goannas are often quite large, or at least bulky, with sharp teeth and claws.