MONITORS

 Lace Monitors are one of the largest Monitor in Australia and can grow up to 1.5-2m in length. Also known as the Tree Goanna or Lacy, this species is mildly venomous. Their terrestrial and  arboreal reptiles. Despite their large size and mass, they're adept climbers. Lace monitors are generally solitary and diurnal lizards, spending majority of their life in one area providing it offers a substantial food source.  

They're usually dark grey to black and have creamy-yellow coloured bands along their bodies. They also show black bars across their faces and necks. Their backs act as solar panels and once heated, allows a Monitor to move swiftly both on ground and climbing trees when required.  Females lay their eggs in termite nests or if unavailable, create a hole in the ground and cover with leaves.  They're an Apex Predator eating all forms of prey including those living underground. 

  Yellow-spotted monitors are primarily terrestrial and spend a great deal of time on the ground. They're avid diggers and will dig large burrows or take over an already existing burrow. Despite this, they will eagerly forage in trees and in water. These large lizards are quite fast and will run up to 100 meters away to the nearest tree or burrow when they are chased. They often "tripod", raising up on their hind legs and supporting themselves with their tail. This unusual behavior is used to spot potential prey or enemies from a distance or when they are threatened. This habit provides them a unique characteristic that separates them from most other monitors. Yellow-spotted monitors hunt for prey by keying in on the movement, chasing it down, and overpowering it. They have great senses, with smell being the most acute. Like all monitors, they have forked tongues and a vomeronasal organ in the roof of their mouths. 

   The Sand Monitor, also known as Goulds Goanna, has beautifully patterned scales setting them apart from plainer lizards. They are greenish-grey all over, with ringed yellow spots. These spots are most prominent on their tail and lower torso, where they form patterns and bands. The head of a Sand Monitor resembles that of a snake, and has yellow patterns on the sides. The end of the Sand Monitor’s tail is usually white, cream or yellow.  

Sand Monitor can grow up to 160 cm and  weigh as much as 6 kg. It is the second largest goanna or monitor species in Australia. They live in burrows, often setting up a home in abandoned rabbit warrens. These burrows do double duty, as protection from the elements and predators. The entrance to the burrow is often concealed behind a fallen log, shrub or rock.  Goannas are diurnal, hunting during day only and sleeping at night in their burrows