Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Big Lizards

In Australia the Perentie (commonly known as the Goanna) is Australia's largest lizard. The one which visited our backyard recently, was at least 1.5 metres long. Considering they can grow up to, 2.5 metres in length, he (or she) is quite the mature specimen.


Walking


I caught a glimpse of them prowling the lower gully, a few days ago. But I wasn't quick enough to grab the camera, before they strolled out of view again. Even at a slow gait, they can move quickly.

Yesterday, however, I heard the small wrens and finches, going berserk near the back verandah. Which had me looking out the window, to the lower gully. Guess who showed up again...?


Resting


Only this time, I caught them flat on their belly, trying to gulp something down. I thought, poor bird or eggs - which one did they get? This is why all the small birds go berserk, whenever there's a Gonna or snake around. Because they're hunting for the eggs, or young in their nests.

I snapped a few photos from the safety of our back verandah, and then the Gonna decided to go looking for food, elsewhere. Curious to know if there was any evidence of it's morning meal, I headed down to the gully, where I found...


Sternum bone


...the remnants of our last chicken cull.  This had been unearthed before Christmas, by a dog we assumed. As it wasn't consumed in any way. So we left it above ground, to see how long it would take for the environment to consume. I'd completely forgotten about it. Yet this bone, is right where I found the Gonna trying to eat something.

Once gone however, the small birds quickly returned to their business of splashing in the birdbath - as if nothing happened. I went inside to upload my photos, and wondered if the Goanna would eventually find a decent meal for the day. Because at that size, they've got to eat something substantial!



8 comments:

  1. Wow! That is BIG. I've seen goannas in the wild but we don't have them here. The biggest lizard we get here is "Blue", the blue tongue. I've had one wandering around in the last week. He seems to live in one of the compost heaps which is covered in several inches of oak leaves. When he's there, I notice a mound in the leaves and give it a gentle poke and he pops up his head. One of the reasons (frogs is another) why I never turn the compost with a pitchfork.

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  2. They sure are a biggin. I'm hoping this was the same fella, scouting around our verandah a few years back. Only they were just over a metre in length, back then. I'd be chuffed, if it was the very same one! Those blue-tongues lizards can get quite stocky in size too. Magnificent creatures. Love their blue tongues. I'm sure their prey doesn't though, lol. Good job to be weary of your helpful compost critters.

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  3. Wow that is a big lizard, Chris. We only have the blue tongues here too and they give me a big enough fright if I disturb them as I think it is a snake.

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    1. It's not moist enough here for the blue-tongues I think, Chel. Besides that, I reckon the Goannas would probably eat them. But I can see why you would confuse it for a snake. I get that with the small skinks. Especially when they chase each other around, in the dried leaves.

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  4. Thanks for the pic,lovely patterns on the skin, maybe they were just looking for a drink. All my bird, lizard and bee drinkers need topping up every day in this weather.

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    1. It is rather dry. I was hoping some rain would arrive soon, but it's not in the forecasts, unfortunately. We'll just have to keep topping up those water reserves for the animals. I do love the yellow and black polka-dots too!

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  5. We have the occasional Goanna visit here too Chris. I haven't seen any in a while though.

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    1. They do love to be stealthy! Much preferring to go undetected, if they can. I guess that's why we don't see them every year either.

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