Goannas are technically known as Lace Monitors, or Varanus varius.
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| Goanna up a small tree. |
It had a large prominent abdomen. I have no idea what it had in its stomach, but there is a prominent ridge visible in its stomach, so I can only guess that it had recently consumed something with a long tail - most likely a large snake. But that is a guess.
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| Look at the extended belly. Lunch might have been a snake. |
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| Varanus varius head and front feet claws |
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| Second Goanna - roaming actively. |
Early in our encounter, it came close up, towards me, and believe me, I was nervous. Its tongue was flicking out, repeatedly "tasting the air". Fortunately there was a broken shrub between the Goanna and me.
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| Tongue flicking is the way Goannas "sniff out their prey" |
From the sublime to the ridiculous, we saw a small young Goanna on the road. Kirsten stopped ot prevent running over it, and it ran under her car, as another car approached - on this fairly busy road. It must then have scampered off, for we did not see it again. It had a small forked tongue, just like the adult I had just seen.
Three Goannas in one kilometre of road is pretty amazing.
5 comments:
Those first two are big fellows! I like the photo with the long tongue flicking out. I have been at picnic areas where they have become used to people and come right up looking for handouts or dropped rubbish. Frightening beasties up close!
Good images, well done.
http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/
What a party could have been had on that stretch of road. Went with a group of people on a goanna hunt in the NT some years ago. Champion female Aboriginal goanna hunter and her trusty dog. We got two. One to eat on the spot and the other to take home. Teresa gutted the beastie and sewed him back together with sharpened sticks. We travelled in a Super Trooper with the side seats so a number of us sat in the back with the homeward bound goanna on the floor at our feet. Goanna is tasty - sort of like a greasy chicken.
Thanks Le Loup. You might note Miss Eagle's comments about "bush Tucker". Not sure you qualify to be able to claim traditional hunting rights.
Interesting story Miss Eagle. No wonder you get so misty eyed when thinking of Territory Days.
I thought the second Goanna was trying to work out if my leg would taste like Greasy Chicken. I certainly have heard stories about them mistaking people legs for tree trunks, and trying to climb up them, and I did not want to deal with those mighty claws.
Impressive creatures, both of them.
Le Loup, my longer lens is broken at present, so I was very disappointed with missing a really clear shot of the Goanna when it was circling around in the bush below the road. At least I got the tongue. Even that is pretty scary. About 5 inches in the old money, and it was really working hard, scenting the air.
Cheers
Denis
Hi Mick.
Only just found your comment. Sorry for delay.
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Your comment puts "Please do not feed the Seagulls" in the shade. A "Tame Goanna" is not trustworthy, that's for sure.
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That's as close as I wish to come to a Dinosaur!
Cheers
Denis
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