G OULD ’ S G OANNA Olivia Binder

G OULD ’ S G OANNA - INTRODUCTION Class Reptilia – Reptiles Order Squamata – Lizards Family Varanidae – Monitor Lizards Genus Varanus Species gouldii Common names: Sand monitor Racehorse goanna

G OULD ’ S G OANNA - D ESCRIPTION Size – up to 1.6 metres Born ~28 centimetres Females 2/3 size of males Colour Varies depending on location Often grey-black with yellow flecks, bands or stripes, a pale belly and a light tail Can be sandy to reddish to almost black Shape Tail 1.5 times length of head & body

G OULD ’ S G OANNA - H ABITAT Found throughout Australia except Eastern Victoria and Tasmania They are active throughout the day Adult goannas are usually solitary and hunt in a territory. They may have one or more burrows

G OULD ’ S G OANNA - D IET Goanna’s eat almost anything. Reptiles including snakes and other lizards Insects Small mammals such as mice, rats and rabbits Crustaceans like crabs Eggs Carrion (dead animals) They have long sharp teeth which they use to grip their prey They eat with jerky movements of the head and neck

G OULD ’ S G OANNA – B EHAVIOUR & B REEDING Adult males will dig a burrow near a female burrow after fighting off other males. They then mate with the female over a number of days. The female lays 5-8 eggs in a hollow log, burrow, in leaf litter or in a termite mound Eggs have parchment-like shells and the young hatch after about two months The newborns are independent and look after themselves from birth.

G OULD ’ S G OANNA - E NEMIES Large goannas raise themselves on hind legs and scare off attackers, most goannas run away at great speed Foxes prey on young goannas. Raptorial birds also prey on smaller goannas. Vehicle traffic and poachers kill goannas

G OULD ’ S G OANNA – I NTERESTING F ACTS Some Aboriginal people catch lizards for food. They throw the dead goanna onto a fire and wait until the skin begins to peel off before eating it Gould’s goanna has been known to mistake a person for a tree trunk when scared, and climb up the person’s leg! When the weather is hot, they cool down by holding its mouth open and fluttering its throat pouch