Gould's Monitor

Varanus gouldii

The Gould's Monitor was found in the middle of the road near Mandurah, Western Australia - she was bleeding from the mouth.
It was assumed that she was run over, although there are no other obvious signs of injury (except the bleeding).
Sadly, she died not long after coming into care.
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other name
Sand Monitor, Sand Goanna, Gould's Goanna or Racehorse Goanna

DESCRIPTION

Colour varies rather dramatically, from a sandy yellow to almost black. Scatterings of light cream and darker yellow flecks and spots, which tend to be aligned transversely to form irregular narrow cross bands. Limbs are finely spotted. There is usually a well defined black temporal stripe edged above and below with white or cream. Tail is light brown or black, with the last few inches being either white, cream or yellow. Whitish on underside with a scattering of dark flecks and spots. Some adults grow up to a length of 1.6 metres, although this varies between populations.

The Gould's Monitor can be found over much of Australia but is absent from south-east coast of NSW and the south coast of Victoria and extreme south of Western Australia, although it inhabits dryer area's and is absent from wet area's such as rainforests. There are two subspecies - Varanus gouldii gouldii occupies most of the continent except for the arid interior, and Varanus gouldii flavirufus is found in the arid interior of Australia. The Gould's Monitor is completely absent from Tasmania. Activity varies according to climate conditions - in the tropics the monitor is active throughout most of the year, while in the deserts it is known to retreat to the burrow during extreme cold and heat. The monitor is primarily a ground dwelling reptile found in a variety of habitats from coastal sclerophyll forests to sandy deserts of the interior. If frightened the monitor will a scale tree for security. The monitor shelters in burrows (either self made at a depth of about 40cm, or those of other animals, such as wombat and rabbit burrows), hollow logs and dense leafy ground litter. The diet consists of insects, reptiles, birds, small mammals and carrion and the monitor can range over a large area to forage for food. Larger specimens raise themselves - tripod style - by balancing on hind legs and the tail to enable a better view of their surroundings. This stance is also used when the monitor is in defensive mode, either in territorial displays with other monitors or against predators, such as wild and domestic dogs and large Birds of Prey. The female monitor sometimes lays her eggs in termite mounds, as the heat inside the mound incubates the eggs. The Gould's Monitor is classed as common throughout its range.