Journal article
Observations of diet of Lace Monitors, Varanus varius, in Gosford, New South Wales
Herpetofauna, Vol.37(1), pp.42-44
01/07/2007
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Abstract
The Lace Monitor Varanus varius is a large lizard ranging up to 2.25 metres long, with body mass up to 14 kilograms that lives in the lowland forests of south-eastern Australia. A survey was carried out in December 2005 for Spotted-tailed Quolls at Kincumber Mt, Katandra Reserve and Rumbalara Reserve, Gosford, NSW. During this survey Lace Monitors were caught on14 occasions. Three of these Lace Monitors regurgitated their stomach contents. Contents included a Brown Pigeon, a Rainbow Lorikeet nestling, a juvenile rabbit, and four baby rabbits. The varanid that had consumed the rabbits was caught approximately 200 to 300 metres from the nearest open grassed areas. These observations confirm previous studies that Lace Monitors are opportunistic consumers of a wide range of prey and concur with a previous study that showed that nestling birds and rabbits are mainly eaten in spring early summer.
Details
- Title
- Observations of diet of Lace Monitors, Varanus varius, in Gosford, New South Wales
- Creators
- Meri Oakwood - Envirotek (NSW, Nana Glen)Leonard Marquart
- Publication Details
- Herpetofauna, Vol.37(1), pp.42-44
- Publisher
- Australian Herpetological Society
- Identifiers
- 991013357312602368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article