 |
COMMON NAME:
Rosenberg's goanna
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Varanus rosenbergi
FAMILY: Varandae
GENUS: Varanus
STATUS: Secure
SIZE (cm): 160 |
DESCRIPTION: Most goannas are dark in coloration, whites,
greys, blacks and greens featuring prominently. Many desert dwelling
species also feature yellow-red tones. Camouflage ranges from bands
and stripes to splotches, speckles and circles, and can change as the
creature matures; juveniles sometimes being brighter than adults. Like
most lizards, goannas lay eggs. Most lay eggs in a nest or burrow, but
some species lay their eggs inside termite mounds. This offers protection
and incubation, additionally the termites may provide a meal for the
young as they hatch. Unlike other species of lizards, goannas do not
have the ability to regrow limbs or tails.
PREFERRED HABITAT: Goannas are found throughout
most of Australia, except for Tasmania, and manage to persist in a
variety of environments. Most species are terrestrial, or ground dwelling.
Prominent among these is the Sand goanna (Varanus gouldii –
also known as the ground goanna or Gould's goanna), the most common
of all goannas. They are often found in close proximity to a burrow
or den, which may be a hollow log, or if in the plains a dug burrow
which can be up to a metre (three feet) deep. They may even take over
rabbit warrens. The far end of the burrow is often close to the surface,
so if the entrance is blocked off (by a predator, or a collapse) the
goanna just needs to break through a thin layer of soil to be free.
As well as sandy plains, some goannas live in rocky outcrops and
cliffs, often having special adaptations that aid their survival.
The spiny-tailed goanna (Varanus acantharus) of Northern Australia,
has blunt spines on its tail that make it virtually immovable from
the rockface if in danger.
While some terrestrial goannas may occasionally climb trees or outcrops,
there are plenty of primarily arboreal species. The lace monitor (Varanus
varius) is probably the best-known amongst these, but is not the most
common. The lace monitor is the second largest of all goannas, reaching
lengths of up to 2 metres. Other more common tree goannas, such as
the Timor tree monitor (Varanus timorensis) and Mournful tree monitor
(Varanus tristis) do not grow to quite such lengths, averaging only
a few feet nose to tail.
MICROHABITAT: Other goannas are adapted to swampy
coastal environments such as the Mangrove goanna (Varanus semiremex).
Further still, the Mertens' water monitor (Water goanna – Varanus
mertensi), found in lagoons and rivers across northern Australia,
is streamlined for swimming, utilising its tail as a paddle. Most
other goannas are good swimmers, but tend not to voluntarily venture
into the water.
AVAILABILITY: Click
here to view current reptiles we have in stock!
