LACE MONITOR
Varanus varius

This lace monitor 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.

Hatchlings are normally brightly coloured but usually the brightness fades fast and the pattern changes over time

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

The Lace monitor 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 was given to the late George Cann (Jr.) as an egg found by a member of the public.
(It was not known what species was in the egg till it hatched)



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

This common form above may be confused with the Heath Monitor Varanus rosenbergi
The Lace Monitor often has a" barred" pattern on its nose and throat and broad bands on its tail.


The following two 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.

"Bell's" or banded phase of lace monitor Varanus varius



"Bell's" or banded phase of lace monitor Varanus varius

LINKS OF INTEREST

MONITORS OF THE WORLD
by John Fowler

AUSTRALIAN MONITOR LIZARDS
by John Fowler

Wild Recon: Lace Monitor Venom
Animal Planet
VIDEO