Goanna in the road

He was walking across the road just past the airfield at Laura, and I stopped the car to take a photo. He barely acknowledged my presence, gave me a disdainful look and went off into the scrub at the side of the road.

Goanna, predatory lizards, are often quite large, with sharp teeth and claws. The largest is the Perentie, which can grow over 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in length.

Around 30 species of goanna are known, 25 of which are found in Australia. This varied group of carnivorous reptiles ranges greatly in size and fills several ecological niches. The goanna features prominently in Aboriginal mythology and Australian folklore. Being predatory lizards, goannas are often quite large, or at least bulky, with sharp teeth and claws. Like most lizards, goannas lay eggs. Most lay eggs in a nest or burrow, but some species lay their eggs inside termite mounds. This offers protection and incubation; additionally, the termites may provide a meal for the young as they hatch. Unlike some other species of lizards, goannas do not have the ability to regrow limbs or tails.