Perentie

Taxobox
name = Perentie
status = secure

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image_width = 275px
image_caption = Perentie Lizard at Perth Zoo
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Scleroglossa
familia = Varanidae
genus = "Varanus"
species = "V. giganteus"
binomial = "Varanus giganteus"
binomial_authority = (Gray, 1845)

The Perentie "(Varanus giganteus)" is the largest monitor lizard or goanna native to Australia, and fourth largest lizard on earth, after the Komodo Dragon, crocodile monitor and the water monitor. Found west of the Great Dividing Range in the arid areas of Australia, they are not a common sight on account of their shyness and remoteness of much of their range from human habitation.

Their status in Indigenous Aboriginal culture is evident in the totemic relationship, and part of a dreaming, as well as bush tucker. They were a favoured food item among desert Aboriginal tribes, and the fat was used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. Many are depicted in Aboriginal art and their accompanying stories such as the piece ‘Goanna Calling for Rain’ and ‘How the Perentie and Goanna got their Colours’. [Goanna. Aboriginal Tourism - Indigenous Australia - Iconography and Symbols (Travel Australia with AusEmade). [http://www.ausemade.com.au/aboriginal/resources/symbols/symbols_goanna.htm] ]

Description

The lizard can grow up to 2.5 metres (8 ft) in length although the average length is around 1.75-2 metres (5.5-6.5 ft) and weigh up to 15 kg (33 lb),maximum weight can be over 20 kg. Their rival for third largest lizard is the crocodile monitor. Crocodile Monitors are longer, and often exceed 8 feet in length, but perenties are heavier and bulkier than the crocodile monitor. However, Perenties are relatively lean lizards, less bulky than either the Komodo dragon or the water monitor.

Venom

In late 2005, University of Melbourne researchers discovered that Perenties ("Varanus giganteus"), other monitors and Iguanians may be somewhat venomous. Previously, it had been thought that bites inflicted by these lizards were simply prone to infection because of bacteria in the lizards' mouths, but these researchers have shown that the immediate effects are caused by mild envenomation. Bites on human digits by a Lace Monitor ("Varanus varius"), a Komodo Dragon ("V. komodoensis") and a Spotted Tree Monitor ("V. scalaris") have been observed and all produced similar results in humans: rapid swelling within minutes, localised disruption of blood clotting, shooting pain up to the elbow, with some symptoms lasting for several hours. [Fry, Brian G., et al. (2006). "Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes." "Nature". Letters. Vol. 439/2 February 2006, pp. 584-588. Pdf file available for download at: [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=%22Early%20evolution%20of%20the%20venom%20system%20in%20lizards%20and%20snakes%22%20Letters%20Nature%2010.1038&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=ws] ]

According to some Australian wives' tales, the perentie is immune to the bite of venomous snakes. This folklore has not been experimentally tested in light of the discovery that the perentie is itself venomous.

Distribution and habitat

* Arid
* Rocky with hard packed soil and some other loose rock matter

Behaviour

Perenties are not a common sight in Australia: they are hard to find, and usually evade any human "looker" before the "looker" has a chance to see them.

They can stand on their back legs and tail to gain a better view of the surrounding terrain. This behaviour, known as "tripoding", is quite common to all monitors large and small. Perenties are fast sprinters, running using either all four legs or just their hind legs.

Diet

Perenties generally forage for their food, but are also known to wait for small animals to come to them. Prey include:
* Insects
* Reptiles, including their own kind
* Birds and birds' eggs
* Small mammals
* CarrionLarge adults can attack larger prey, like small kangaroos.

Footnotes

References

* Cogger, H. (1967). "Australian Reptiles in Colour". Sydney: A. H. & A. W. Reed, ISBN 0-589-07012-6
* King, Dennis & Green, Brian. 1999. "Goannas: The Biology of Varanid Lizards". University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 0-86840-456-X

External links