Lace Monitor

Scientific Name: Varanus varius

Lace monitor

Description: Dark grey to dull blue with numerous scattered cream spots forming solid bands towards the tail

Habitat: They frequent both open and closed forests and forage over long distances (up to 3 km a day).

About: They are mainly active from September to May, but are inactive in cooler weather and shelter in tree hollows or under fallen trees or large rocks. Their diets typically consist of insects, reptiles, small mammals, birds, and birds’ eggs. They are also carrion eaters, feeding on already dead carcasses of other wildlife. Lace monitors will also forage in areas inhabited by people, raiding chicken coops for poultry and eggs, rummaging through unprotected domestic garbage bags, and rubbish bins in picnic and recreational areas.

Bites inflicted by these lizards were thought to be simply prone to infection because of bacteria in the lizards’ mouths, but these researchers have shown the immediate effects may be caused by mild envenomation.   Source: Wikipedia

SVL: 2.1 m

Please post a comment if you have seen this animal in the Habitat