Monitors and Goannas
20/06/2023
There are around 50 species of Monitor lizards throughout the world (Africa, Asia, Australia), with 30 species being found in Australia.
The term Goanna is an Aussie slang (which came from the word iguana) for the Monitor lizards.
The worlds largest Monitor lizard is the Komodo Dragon which will grow over 3m.
Australia's largest monitor lizard is the Perentie growing to just over 2m and ranking it 3rd worldwide.
Below is a list of the goannas of Australia I've been luck enough to see and photograph.
1. Spiny-tailed monitor (Varanus acanthurus)
2. Black-spotted ridge-tailed monitor (Varanus baritji)
3. Perentie (Varanus giganteus)
4. Pygmy mulga monitor (Varanus gilleni)
5. Kimberley rock monitor (Varanus glauerti)
6. Black-palmed rock monitor (Varanus glebopalma)
7. Sand goanna (Varanus gouldii)
8. Long-tailed rock monitor (Varanus kingorum)
9. Mertens' water monitor (Varanus mertensi)
10. Mitchell's water monitor (Varanus mitchelli)
11. Yellow-spotted monitor (Varanus panoptes)
12. Northern blunt-spined monitor (Varanus primordius)
13. Spotted Tree Monitor (Varanus scalaris)
14. Spencer's goanna (Varanus spenceri)
15. Storr's Monitor (Varanus storri)
16. Black-headed monitor (Varanus tristis)
17. Lace monitor (Varanus varius)