Spencer's goanna
| Spencer's goanna | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Lacertilia |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Genus: | Varanus |
| Subgenus: | Varanus |
| Species: | V. spenceri |
| Binomial name | |
| Varanus spenceri Lucas & Frost, 1903 | |
Spencer's goanna or Spencer's monitor (Varanus spenceri) is a species of monitor lizards native to the Barkly region in central Queensland/Northern Territory, Australia. They can grow to a total length of up to 120 cm. Spencer's monitor is generally heavier than a similarly sized monitor of another species due to their 'stockier' build. They have sharp claws which they use for digging burrows. They eat anything they can find, including highly venomous snakes, small mammals, small lizards, eggs, and carrion (dead animals), and are able to digest anything they eat. When threatened, they hiss loudly, distend their throats and whip their aggressor with their muscular tails. They are able to knock people out with their tails. They live in black soil plains with no trees, so Spencer's goannas are the only Australian monitor that do not readily climb. Juvenile animals will climb given the opportunity. Clutch size of Spencer's monitor generally ranges between 11 and 30 eggs.[1] Varanus ingrami is an invalid name (a junior synonym) for this species.
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