Reptiles and Frogs
Monitors & Geckos
Sighting 4242664

Varanus rosenbergi

3 Heath or Rosenberg's Monitor at Woodlands, NSW

Varanus rosenbergi at Woodlands, NSW - suppressed
Varanus rosenbergi at Woodlands, NSW - suppressed
Varanus rosenbergi at Woodlands, NSW - suppressed
Varanus rosenbergi at Woodlands, NSW - suppressed
Request use of media

Identification history

Varanus rosenbergi 22 Nov 2019 PatrickCampbell
Varanus varius 22 Nov 2019 haynesb

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

Significant sighting

PatrickCampbell noted:

22 Nov 2019

Rare and Vulnerable species in NSW.

User's notes

Juvenile Lace Monitor

5 comments

Margot wrote:
   23 Nov 2019
Hi Haynesb, great find! I've just uploaded a cropped version of your photo so it will be a bit easier for our reptile moderators to see. Cheers, Margot (Southern Highlands Nature Map Admin).
PatrickCampbell wrote:
   23 Nov 2019
It's a Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi), which is an even greater find, as it's not only a rare and vulnerable species in NSW but it's our first recorded sighting on SHNM.

A good way to tell these two species apart, is by looking at the tail bands. Lacies have fewer and broader, pale tail bands, whereas Heathies have relatively evenly spaced, narrower, pale bands along the entire length of the tail.
A different behavioural response to potential predators can also be observed, as Lacies invariably go up a nearby tree, whereas Heathies tend to stay on the ground or disappear down a burrow.

Thanks for cropping the image Margot.
haynesb wrote:
   23 Nov 2019
Thanks to you both. I’m learning a lot already. You’re so right about how it behaved too.
PatrickCampbell wrote:
   23 Nov 2019
You're welcome Haynes. Congratulations on making such a significant sighting.
BLSHTwo wrote:
   25 Nov 2019
That's an awesome find. I still haven't seen one in the highlands yet, well done!

Please Login or Register to comment.

Location information

Sighting information

Species information

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
818,522 sightings of 22,369 species from 14,086 members
CCA 3.0 | privacy
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.