Lace Monitor or Goanna

Description:

one of Australia's largest lizards. They have strong claws and powerful legs. They are dark grey to black in colour with cream or yellow scales forming bands and blotches. There are usually black bars across the snout, throat and chin. The tongue is long and forked like a snake . Monitors are the only lizards that have a forked tongue.

Habitat:

Much of its time is spent up fairly large trees. It forages on the ground but will climb a tree when disturbed. It is found in forests, tall woodlands and open tablelands and slopes.

Notes:

Goannas are predators and scavengers eating insects, small mammals, lizards, nestling birds, eggs and carrion. It is common for several monitors to feed from the same carcass. After a large feed they are able to go for many weeks without feeding again.