| Spencer's goanna | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cologne Zoological Garden | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Anguimorpha |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Genus: | Varanus |
| Subgenus: | Varanus |
| Species: | V. spenceri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Varanus spenceri | |
| |
Spencer's goanna (Varanus spenceri), also known as the Spencer's monitor, is a species of Australian monitor lizard. It can be found in the Northern Territory and Queensland.2
Etymology
The specific name, spenceri, is in honour of English-Australian biologist Walter Baldwin Spencer.3
Description
It can grow to a total length (including tail) of up to 120 cm (47 in). It is generally heavier than other similarly sized monitor lizards due to its stockier build. It has sharp claws which it uses for digging burrows.4
It will eat anything it can find, including highly venomous snakes, small mammals, small lizards, eggs, as well as carrion, and is able to digest anything it eats.4
It exhibits unusual defensive behaviour, where it feigns death when threatened; the body is flattened against the ground, one hind limb is extended while all other limbs held close to the body, and the tail is contorted into a wavy shape. The head is kept up to observe the threat, feigning death until the threat has left the area.5
It reproduces oviparously. The clutch size of the Spencer's monitor generally ranges from between 11 and 30 eggs.24
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of the Spencer's goanna is grassland.1
Living in black soil plains with no trees, Spencer's goanna is the only Australian monitor that does not readily climb, although juvenile animals will climb given the opportunity.
Taxonomy
Varanus ingrami Boulenger, 1906, is an invalid name (a junior synonym) for this species.2
References
References
- Shea, G.; Hobson, R.; Amey, A. (2018). "Varanus spenceri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T83778868A101752365. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T83778868A101752365.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- Species Varanus spenceri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Varanus spenceri, p. 250).
- "Spencer's Monitor". Australian Reptile Park. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- Shannon, Rod (2008). "Observations on Three Species of Varanus in Ilfracombe, Queensland". Biawak. 2 (2): 85–86.
Further reading
Further reading
- Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
- Lucas AHS, Frost C (1903). "Descriptions of two new Australian Lizards, Varanus spencer and Diplodactylus bilineatus ". Proceedins of the Royal Society of Victoria 15: 145–147. (Varanus spenceri, new species, pp. 145–146).
- Mertens R (1958). "Bemerkungen über die Warane Australiens ". Senckenbergiana biologica 39: 229–264. (in German).
- Wilson, Steve; Swan, Gerry (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.
External links
External links
- Media related to Varanus spenceri at Wikimedia Commons
- Photos at Kingsnake.com