One of the Monitors often refereed to as "Goanna", they can grow to over 2m and are often seen foraging for food.

Lace Monitor - Varanus varius - Photo by Alex Pawlow

They have a varied diet, from other reptiles, frogs, birds and eggs. Being excellent climbers, they frequently raid nest for eggs. In far north Queensland, scrub turkey mounds are a prime target.

The patterns of spots and stripes on the Lace Monitor are particularly striking and give the appearance of being "hand painted".

When startled, they will head for the nearest tree and climb up and to the opposite side of the trunk. Anecdotally, they can often confuse a person with a hiding place and climb an unfortunate individual. Their strong, sharp claws would undoubtedly make this an unpleasant experience.