Album: Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)

Also known as a goanna, this large ground and tree-dwelling lizard lives in a variety  of habitats. It eats insects, other reptiles, amll mammals, carrion, young birds and eggs. Like many tree-dwelling lizards, it will spiral up a tree trunk to avoid danger. The female lays 6-12 eggs, ofter inside a protective chamber dug into a termite mound.

Changed: May 01, 2008.
Contains: 2 items.
Viewed: 66 times.

Album: Unknown species


Changed: Nov 03, 2007.
Contains: 4 items.
Viewed: 25 times.

Album: Mertens' Water Monitor (Varanus mertensi)
 

Max. Length: 1 - 1.5m
Distribution: Rivers, streams, creeks and billabongs of northern Australia

Mertens' water monitors spend much of the dat 'monitoring' the temperature of their enclosure. Like all reptiles they gain heat from their environment so they may be seen adopting a variety of unusual postures to locate the ultimate hot spot! Similar to freshwater turtles and crocodiles, they shift between basking positions on logs and rocks and the nearby water to regulate body temperature, escape from predators, or become predators themselves! Descended from a marine lizard and related to the Komodo dragon, the Mertens' water monitor has the small head, long neck, sturdy body and long and powerful tail typical of monitor lizards. Whilst most members of the monitor family live on land or in trees, the Mertens' monitor is well adopted to life in a freshwater environment. With a tail shaped like the keel of a ship and nostrils on top of its head, they make excellent swimmers, able to stay underwater for several minutes at a time. Highly specialised valves close the nostrils when these reptiles are submerged. This allows them to walk under water with their eyes open in search of food such as fish, frogs, crabs, insects and even small mammals.

What do they eat?
Water Monitors feed on a large range of vertebrates, however during the dry season they vary their diet to fish and crustaceans.

Where do they live?
Being semi-aquatic their preferred habitat is around water courses and lagoons.

Interesting facts:
Their nostrils are on the top of their snout to enable them to breathe when the rest of their body is submerged. Monitor lizards get their name because of the way they monitor their environment. These lizards use a variety of senses to inspect their surroundings. Monitors use their tongue to catch scent particles which are used as "clues" to find food and mates, or to detect enemies. Monitor lizards use their tails as an area for fat storage.

Is the population healthy?
This particular species is under threat from the ever expanding distribution of the introduced feral Cane Toad.

Changed: Dec 31, 2008.
Contains: 6 items.
Viewed: 12 times.

Album: Frilled Lizard (Chlamydosauraus kingii)
 
Dragons feed almostexclusively upon arthropods (insects and spiders). The Frilled Lizard is one of Australia's largest dragons, with its size and power they are capable of seizing diverse prey such as small vertebrates.

Where do they live?
The Frilled Lizard is recognised as Australia's reptile ambassador. The distribution of this remarkable dragon spans from the Kimberley region through "top end" of Northern Territory to Cape York and along the East Coast to Brisbane in South Eastern Queensland.

Some interesting facts:
The large frill is an adaptation that is erected when confronted by an enemy. As a final defence the Friled Lizard resorts to a unique mode of retreat by running for cover using bipedal locomotion.

Changed: May 01, 2008.
Contains: 2 items.
Viewed: 16 times.

Album: Fijian Banded Lguana (Brachylophus fasciatus)
 
Fijian lguanas are omnivorous lizards feeding predominantly upon the foliage and flowers of trees and shrubs. The Hibiscus flower is a particular favourite along with the occasional insect.

Where do they live?
Found only in some parts of the Fijian archipelago this lizard is restricted to the larger islands and a couple of the smaller Eastern island groups. They are highly arboreal creatures inhabiting low coastal forests.

Some interesting facts!
An endangered species that is presumed to have arrived in Fiji due to a phenomenon known as "Rafting". Scientists share the belief that ancestors of Fiji lguanas survived the amazing journey across the ocean from South America to Fiji upon the trunks of trees that were uprooted by hurricanes.

Changed: May 01, 2008.
Contains: 5 items.
Viewed: 19 times.