Goanna

**Mad Aussie** · 09-27-2011, 02:09 AM

Thanks Matt, Q1 and JAS.

They can indeed run very quickly when they want Matt, but mostly they just amble around and scurry up trees when humans get too close.

**thoughton** · 09-27-2011, 06:07 AM

Very cool critter! A few years back I spent a week on Komodo and your goannas look nearly identical to the famous dragons. Even the size isn't much different.

I used to know a guy who had a monitor living under his bed for a few weeks. He worked for a rescue centre and it was an abandoned pet. Feeding time consisted of waving a chicken breast at the edge of the bed until the lizard zipped out and almost ripped his fingers off. Not sure I could sleep with a dinosaur under the bed

**Mad Aussie** · 09-27-2011, 07:19 AM

Komodo's are monitor lizards of course, hence the similarity. I've seen Komodo's at Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's) and they can grow a fair bit bigger than our lizards.
The one in my picture may have been a shade under the 2m mark (I didn't grab a tape measure and measure him

) and they are rarely seen larger than that I think.
We do have the Perentie Lizard too though which I think is bigger again.

**thoughton** · 09-27-2011, 12:47 PM

I couldn't resist looking it up

You're right of course, while the kimonos are only a little longer (3m vs 2.5m) than your Perentie they are much fatter and heavier, 4x the weight.

Edit: stupid auto spell check. Komodos, not kimonos

**Wicked Dark** · 09-27-2011, 02:29 PM

what a fantastic creature. North America is not famous for its lizards, unfortunately. How great that you got one up a tree.

**Mad Aussie** · 09-27-2011, 04:34 PM

Thanks for confirming that I'm brilliant Thoughton

WD ... I'd like to say that I'm some sort of lizard whisperer or that I tracked these creatures for days to finally get one up a tree, but in reality most Aussies who have picnicked or hiked in the bush have seen these monitors climb trees. It's what they do when frightened.