Goanna (Lace Monitor)

This was a big animal, and I almost died when it shot out from the rocks and undergrowth not far in front of me. Over 6 foot in length, this goanna was in no mood for a photo session. All goannas are carnivorous, consuming anything they can overpower. They will also eat carrion, and can be a real nuisance in campsites and picnic areas where people are prone to feed them. However, they possess large, sharp claws which can inflict serious wounds, and if provoked, goannas will bite. No such problem with this handsome fellow though, as he was quite shy. There are 19 species of Goanna to be found in Queensland. An interesting fact: This group contains the world's largest living lizard, the komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) from Indonesia which grows to more than 3 metres. The komodo dragon is most closely related to the goanna (Varanus varius) and there is fossil evidence suggesting that komodo dragons once also occurred in Australia.