MANGROVE MONITOR

Photographed on Boigu Island, Torres Straits, March 2020

  

151               MANGROVE MONITOR               Varanus indicus

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS                 106

Also known as Mangrove Goanna or Western Pacific Monitor Lizard. Distributed from northern Australia and New Guinea to the Moluccas, Soloman Islands, Marshall Islands, Caroline Islands and Mariana Islands. An opportunistic carnivore, feeding on the eggs of reptiles and birds, mollusks, rodents, insects, crabs, smaller lizards, fish and carrion. The only monitor capable of catching fish in deep water.

SPINIFEX DELMA

152                    SPINIFEX DELMA              Delma butleri

AUSTRALIAN LIZARDS              106

Also known as Unbanded Delma. Found in southern half of WA, through SA and nw Victoria to interior of NSW. Variety of habitats ranging from hummock grasslands to arid Acacia scrubs, mallee and savannah woodlands; found commonly in spinifex.