Spencer's goanna
Spencer's goanna, 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 of up to. 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, and is able to digest anything it eats.Defensive behaviour
Spencer's goanna exhibits 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.