Encountering a Lace Monitor
The imposing head of a Lace Monitor
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Zoom [ISO 500, 428mm, f/8.0 and 1/320])
Lace Monitors (Varanus varius) are Australia’s second largest lizard species with individuals growing up to two metres in length. Despite their size, they are very good climbers, able to scale vertical trees thanks to their sharp claws. Beyond those claws, scientists have discovered that Lace Monitors, along with other monitors, actually have venom, but it is unlikely to kill a human, although it will lead to local swelling and pain. Lace Monitors are close relatives of Indonesia’s famous Komodo Dragons, with both species having evolved from a common ancestor over 10 million years ago. I had been keeping an eye out for this lizard and one morning in January I found it when I was driving along a dirt back road at Narooma. The monitor was sunning itself on the dirt road when I drove along. After I saw it, I slowed the car down and pulled off to the opposite side of the road. I took a few shots from the car window while the lizard stayed on the road looking at me. I was not in a great spot for lighting so I left the car and moved forward of the lizard. My movement made the lizard head slowly for the bush, where it stopped again to look at me. It was probably over a metre, so not fully grown, and not too sure about humans. It stayed on the edge of the bush for a little while, allowing me to move to the better lit side of the lizard and to to get down to its eye level. I was really happy with the encounter, and I stayed put for a little while just admiring this legendary lizard.
Lace Monitor moving to the bush on the side of the road
Canon EOS R5 Mk II with a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM Zoom [ISO 500, 428mm, f/8.0 and 1/320])
