Lace monitor

About

The lace monitor is one of Australia's largest and most familiar goannas, a highly arboreal predator and scavenger found throughout the forests of eastern Australia from Cape York to south-eastern South Australia.

How to spot it

A big goanna (up to 2m, occasionally more) — most commonly dark grey-black with cream spots and a banded tail, though some individuals ('Bell's phase') show broad yellow-and-black bands instead. Confident and inquisitive around campsites and picnic areas, where it will readily investigate food; often seen climbing tree trunks head-first when approached, active mainly between September and May.

Found in

• Royal National Park
• Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
• Blue Mountains National Park
• Barrington Tops National Park
• Myall Lakes National Park
• Border Ranges National Park
• Dorrigo National Park
• Lamington National Park
• Springbrook National Park
• Croajingolong National Park