THE REPTILES OF AUSTRALIA

LACE MONITOR
(Varanus varius)

This very large Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) that is shedding its skin, is waiting near a picnic table at Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie, NSW


Approximate distribution of the Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)


This Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) was hanging around a picnic area at Karawatha Forest Park near Brisbane in South East Qld - Note that Lace Monitors and some other large monitor species often hang around picnic areas. It is dangerous to feed them. If someone reports a problem monitor to the authorities it is likely to be relocated. Note that large sharp bones like T-bones can cause serious injury to goannas as they try to swallow them, and should not be left where a monitor might find them.

This large old Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) approaches Rachel Barnes on Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie, NSW to see if she has any food for him. This goanna was fossicking at the waters edge, then walked to the nearby picnic area to fossick around the picnic area where 3 other goannas were also hoping to find food scraps!


This very large and fat Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) was waiting by a picnic table at Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie, NSW.


This large Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) was photographed at Featherdale Wildlife Park NSW
Notice the banding on the head which is often seen on this species

Hatchling Lace Monitors (Varanus varius) are normally brightly coloured but usually the brightness fades fast and the pattern changes over time

The Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) in the 2 photos above was photographed at Bongil Bongil National Park, NSW - it was about 1 meter long (3ft) seen crossing the road, it allowed us to approach it to take these photos.

The Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) we saw in this tree was photographed at Bongil Bongil National Park, NSW. It was about 1 meter long (3ft)

This beautifully patterned Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) was one of four that I photographed at Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie, NSW

The Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) in the photo above was seen crossing the road at Bongil Bongil National Park, NSW. and it ran up this tree as soon as we stopped the car to avoid running it over. It was approximately 4 ft long (1.25 meters).

This hatchling Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) was given to the late George Cann (Jr.) as an egg found by a member of the public.
(It was not known what species of reptile was in the egg till it hatched)


This half grown Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) was photographed at Venman Bushland National Park Qld.
Notice the very long tail!

This Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) , was photographed at
Borumba Dam, QLD


The late Joe Bredl with a Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) at the Renmark Reptile Park and Zoo (which closed in 2012)


Bark is falling off the tree under the weight of this large Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) seen along the Googik Track, Port Macquarie, NSW (Copyright 2020 John Fowler & Rachel Barnes)

Monitor lizards have long forked tongues similar to snakes tongues, that they use to taste the air as they search for food. This one was photographed at Shelly Beach, Port Macquarie, NSW (Copyright 2020 John Fowler & Rachel Barnes)


The Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) above was photographed near Hill End, NSW
This common form above may be confused with the Heath Monitor (Varanus rosenbergi)
The Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) often has a" barred" pattern on its nose and throat and broad bands on its tail.


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The following pictures are of the "Bell's" or banded phase of the lace monitor.
The bells phase lace monitors tend to be much more commonly encountered on the west side of the great dividing range.
This form occurs alongside "normal" patterned lace monitors and will occur in the same clutch as normal lace monitors.

The 2 photos above are of a captive "Bell's" or banded phase of Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)



"Bell's" or banded phase of Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)



"Bell's" or banded phase of Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)


Although this photo of a "Bell's" phase of Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) is not very good quality, as it was taken at a distance from the boardwalk at Sea Acres Rainforest Centre, Port Macquarie, NSW, you can still clearly see its forked tongue.
It is not unusual to see "Bells" phase Lace Monitors in this region where normal patterned Lace Monitors seem to be abundant.

LINKS OF INTEREST

Australian Monitor Lizards
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Wild Recon: Lace Monitor Venom
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Contact John Fowler Author of the Australian Herpetology Website, Pythons of the World, BoaSnakes.info, PetGecko.info and Holiday in Kos - Owner of the Adelaide Reptile Forum

Contact John Hollister Author of John Hollister Reptile Collection - Herping the Trans-Pecos & Sweetwater, Texas Rattlesnake Roundup

Updated October 7, 2020