This offers protection and incubation additionally, the termites may provide a meal for the young as they hatch. ![]() Most lay eggs in a nest or burrow, but some species lay their eggs inside termite mounds. Camouflage ranges from bands and stripes to splotches, speckles, and circles, and can change as the creature matures, with juveniles sometimes being brighter than adults. Many desert-dwelling species also feature yellow-red tones. Most goannas are dark-coloured, with greys, browns, blacks, and greens featuring prominently however, white is also common. They have been blamed by farmers for the death of sheep, though most likely erroneously, as goannas are also eaters of carrion and are attracted to rotting meat. They prey on any animal they can catch that is small enough to eat whole. Goannas combine predatory and scavenging behaviours. They survive on smaller prey, such as insects and mice. brevicauda), reaches only 20 cm (8 in) in length. The smallest of these, the short-tailed monitor ( V. Not all goannas are so large pygmy goannas may be smaller than the arm of an adult human. giganteus), which can grow over 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in length. The goanna features prominently in Aboriginal mythology and Australian folklore.īeing predatory lizards, goannas are often quite large, or at least bulky, with sharp teeth and claws. This varied group of carnivorous reptiles ranges greatly in size and fills several ecological niches. ![]() Stripe-tailed goanna ( Varanus caudolineatus)Ī goanna is any one of several species of lizard of the genus Varanus found in Australia and Southeast Asia.Īround 70 species of Varanus are known, 25 of which are found in Australia. For other uses, see Goanna (disambiguation).
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