Go, Go, Goanna! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Monitor lizards

The genus Varanus (monitor lizards) generally have long necks, powerful tails and strong claws on well-developed limbs. They are diurnal and, unlike some lizards, do not re-grow their tails if lost.

How did monitor lizards get the name 'monitor'? One explanation extends back to the days of early Egyptian culture, when they were used as an early-warning system to know when it was safe to enter the waters of the Nile River. They would chain a (monitor) lizard down, and if it was agitated, the people would know there was a crocodile nearby. If it was calm, then it was safe. Thus, it was named for being used to 'monitor' crocodile movements.

Fringe-toed lizards are of the genus Uma in the family Phrynosomatidae.
Sailfin lizards are of the genus Hydrosaurus in the family Agamidae.
Spiny lizards are of the genus Sceloporus in the family Phrynosomatidae.

Answer: Australia and South-East Asia

Another name for goannas is 'Australian monitor lizards', and while the name originated in Australia, some species of goanna can be found on the islands of South-East Asia. But, there are no goannas in Tasmania.

According to the Australian Museum, there are 69 species of goanna in the world, having developed and evolved over millions of years, with roughly 28 of them (at least one of those now extinct) in Australia. Today, there are 15 species endemic to Australia, found nowhere else.

Answer: Iguanas

In the same way that 'possums' were derived from 'opossums', 'goannas' were derived from 'iguanas', with the initial vowel sound being dropped. According to Merriam-Webster, the first recorded use of the word 'goanna' was in 1811.

Answer: Varanus giganteus

From largest to smallest, here are the top four lizards in the world:

#1 - Varanus komodoensis - Komodo dragon
#2 - Varanus salvator - Asian water monitor
#3 - Varanus salvadorii - Crocodile monitor
#4 - Varanus giganteus - Perentie

Perenties are found in arid areas west of the Great Dividing Range in Australia. They can reach up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) long and weigh over 20 kg (44 lbs), although generally they are a little smaller.

Perenties generally avoid human contact, and are considered of least concern as regards endangered status.

Answer: Pygmy goanna (Varanus brevicauda)

The pygmy goanna is the only true goanna name in the list, although I did use real binomial names.

Varanus caudolineatus is really the stripe-tailed goanna.
Varanus keithhornei is actually the canopy goanna.
Varanus hamersleyensis is in fact the Southern Pilbara rock goanna.

The pygmy goanna, also known as the short-tailed monitor (up to 25 cm (9.8 in) long), is now the second-smallest monitor lizard in Australia, after the 2014 discovery of the slightly smaller Dampier Peninsula monitor (up to 23 cm (9 in). Named for the region it was discovered in Western Australia, its binomial name, Varanus sparnus, actually references its sparseness as a species.

Answer: Carnivore

Goannas are predatory lizards who are also scavengers. They prefer to eat any animal that they can catch and eat whole, as well as eggs and insects, but are not averse to taking down the odd larger animal and eating it in chunks. They are also attracted to carrion, and will happily scavenge others' kills.

Answer: False

There is a lizard that can somewhat regulate its own body temperature (Argentinian black and white tegu), but otherwise all lizards (including goannas) are cold-blooded, meaning that their body temperature changes with the temperature of its surroundings. This is the reason the large majority of lizards are found in warm climes.

Answer: Termite mounds

The two species best known for this practice are lace monitors (Varanus varius) and heath monitors (Varanus rosenbergi - also known as Rosenberg's monitor). The females break into the hard shell of the outer mound and lay their brood of eggs, which takes between six and seven months to incubate before hatching.

Answer: True

While the legislation varies from state to state, for the most part, the only restrictions on aboriginal hunting surround specific conservation efforts and protected areas. The topic does come up regularly for discussion and review, however, as the populations of various animals and their ecosystems are monitored.

Answer: Dirawong

Galeru, Ulanji and Wollunqua are all snake deities from different Aboriginal Australian tribes.

Certain tribes within the Bundjalung nation believe that the Rainbow snake and Dirawong together created parts of the Richmond River, Goanna Headland, Snake Island and Pelican Island during an epic battle between the two.

The Dirawong ('Goanna' in English) is said to have taught the people many things, ranging from astronomy to medicine.

This is a simplification of what the Dirawong represents, but it would take up a lot of space to fully explain. Suffice it to say that the goanna is an important part of Aboriginal Australian culture.