Sand goanna
Encyclopedia
The Sand goanna is a large Australia
n monitor lizard
- also known as Gould's monitor, the Sand monitor, or Racehorse goanna.
In some Aboriginal
languages, the sand goanna is called Bungarra, a term commonly used by non-aboriginal people in Western Australia
, too.
The name sand monitor can be used to describe various other species. The Gould's monitor is a terrestrial or "ground-dwelling" reptile that excavates large burrow
s for shelter. Rock escarpments and tree hollows are also suitable dwellings. Varanus gouldii inhabits a vast range throughout Australia. The Gould's monitor reaches an average length of 140 cm (4.6 ft) and can weigh as much as 6 kg (13.2 lb). They can be found in Northern and Eastern Australia where they inhabit open woodland
s and grassland
s. Varanus flavirufus, a subspecies
resides in Australia's interior. There are some places however where the ranges
of Gould's, Flavirufus and Argus monitor
s overlap
. The similarities between the species and their close proximity frequently cause confusion.
The Sand monitor is a relentless forager
. It is diurnal meaning most of its activities take place during the day. Anything smaller than itself will be eagerly devoured. The diet of hatchlings and juveniles often consists mostly of insect
s and small lizard
s but generally varies more with age. Adult monitors will prey on mice
, large insects, small agamids and gecko
es, smaller varanids, snake
s, and carrion. Gould's monitor does consume smaller species of monitor. Ackies, Rock Monitors and other dwarf species are often found and eaten. It is common to see a Gould's disturbing rock piles in an attempt to flush out any odatria. It lays it egg
s in termite mounds to protect it eggs from the harsh desert
climate.
Goannas, like snake
s, have forked tongues which they regularly flick side to side near the ground or amongst leaf litter and are thought to looking for olfactory clues to prey.
in a semi-urban environment." G. G. Thompson. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 78 (4), December 1995, pp. 107-114.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n monitor lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
- also known as Gould's monitor, the Sand monitor, or Racehorse goanna.
In some Aboriginal
Australian Aborigines
Australian Aborigines , also called Aboriginal Australians, from the latin ab originem , are people who are indigenous to most of the Australian continentthat is, to mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania...
languages, the sand goanna is called Bungarra, a term commonly used by non-aboriginal people in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, too.
The name sand monitor can be used to describe various other species. The Gould's monitor is a terrestrial or "ground-dwelling" reptile that excavates large burrow
Burrow
A burrow is a hole or tunnel dug into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of locomotion. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements, so the burrowing way of life is quite popular among the...
s for shelter. Rock escarpments and tree hollows are also suitable dwellings. Varanus gouldii inhabits a vast range throughout Australia. The Gould's monitor reaches an average length of 140 cm (4.6 ft) and can weigh as much as 6 kg (13.2 lb). They can be found in Northern and Eastern Australia where they inhabit open woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
s and grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s. Varanus flavirufus, a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
resides in Australia's interior. There are some places however where the ranges
Range (biology)
In biology, the range or distribution of a species is the geographical area within which that species can be found. Within that range, dispersion is variation in local density.The term is often qualified:...
of Gould's, Flavirufus and Argus monitor
Argus monitor
The Argus monitor is a monitor lizard found in northern regions of Australia and southern New Guinea. It is also commonly known as the Yellow-spotted Monitor....
s overlap
Overlap
Overlap may mean one of:* In music theory, overlap is a synonym for reinterpretation of a chord at the boundary of two musical phrases.* In railway signalling, an Overlap is the length of track beyond a stop signal that is proved to be clear of vehicles in the controls of the previous signal, as a...
. The similarities between the species and their close proximity frequently cause confusion.
The Sand monitor is a relentless forager
Foraging
- Definitions and significance of foraging behavior :Foraging is the act of searching for and exploiting food resources. It affects an animal's fitness because it plays an important role in an animal's ability to survive and reproduce...
. It is diurnal meaning most of its activities take place during the day. Anything smaller than itself will be eagerly devoured. The diet of hatchlings and juveniles often consists mostly of insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s and small lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s but generally varies more with age. Adult monitors will prey on mice
MICE
-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
, large insects, small agamids and gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
es, smaller varanids, snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s, and carrion. Gould's monitor does consume smaller species of monitor. Ackies, Rock Monitors and other dwarf species are often found and eaten. It is common to see a Gould's disturbing rock piles in an attempt to flush out any odatria. It lays it egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
s in termite mounds to protect it eggs from the harsh desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
climate.
Goannas, like snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s, have forked tongues which they regularly flick side to side near the ground or amongst leaf litter and are thought to looking for olfactory clues to prey.
Subspecies
- Gould's Goanna (V. g. gouldi)
- Desert Sand Monitor (V. g. flavirufus)
Sources and photos
- Photo of Varanus gouldii at Reptilesdownunder.com
- Photo of Varanus gouldii at Pbase.com
- Cogger, H. (1967). Australian Reptiles in Colour. Sydney: A. H. & A. W. Reed, ISBN 0-589-07012-6
- King, Dennis & Green, Brian. 1999. Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards. University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 0-86840-456-X
- Brian Bush, Brad Maryan, Robert Browne-Cooper and David Robinson,(1995) A guide to the reptiles and frogs of the Perth region, Nedlands. UWA Press. ISBN 1-875560-42-4
- Thompson (1995). "Foraging patterns and behaviours, body postures and movement speed for goannas, Varanus gouldii (Reptilia: Varanidae),
in a semi-urban environment." G. G. Thompson. Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, 78 (4), December 1995, pp. 107-114.