Spencer's goanna (Varanus spenceri), also known commonly as Spencer's monitor, is a species of Australian monitor lizard.

Etymology

The specific name, spenceri, is in honour of English-Australian biologist Walter Baldwin Spencer.

Geographic range

Spencer's goanna is found in eastern Northern Territory and northwestern Queensland, Australia. It is native to the Barkly Tableland.

Description

Spencer's goanna can grow to a total length (including tail) of up to 120 cm. Spencer's monitor is generally heavier than a similarly sized monitor of another species due to its "stockier" build. It has sharp claws which it uses for digging burrows.

Diet

Spencer's goanna eats anything it can find, including highly venomous snakes, small mammals, small lizards, eggs, and carrion (dead animals), and is able to digest anything it eats.

Defensive behaviour

Spencer's goanna has unusual defensive behaviour, where it feigns death when threatened; the body is flattened against the ground, one hind limb is extended while all other limbs held close to the body, and the tail is contorted into a wavy shape. The head is kept up to observe the threat, feigning death until the threat has left the area.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Spencer's goanna is grassland. Living in black soil plains with no trees, Spencer's goanna is the only Australian monitor that does not readily climb, although juvenile animals will climb given the opportunity.

Reproduction

Clutch size of Spencer's monitor generally ranges between 11 and 30 eggs.

Taxonomy

Varanus ingrami Boulenger, 1906, is an invalid name (a junior synonym) for this species.