S is for snake - but sometimes for lizard

@JudyEv (325651)
Rockingham, Australia
November 22, 2020 9:05pm CST
It’s supposed to be summer here but, until the last few days, we’ve had cool weather and a lot of ‘soft’ rain. Our area is always a bit slow to get the hot weather but it seems to be on its way now. With the warmer weather, the creepy crawlies start to come out to sun themselves and warm up. In the middle of the yard today was this monitor lizard/sand goanna/bungarra (Varanus gouldii) or, as we call it, racehorse goanna. It has a very good turn of speed but this one was relying on pretending it wasn’t there. I like the ‘S’ shape that hopefully you can see in the photo. They aren’t dangerous but have been known to run up a person if pursued by dogs and there are no trees around. They can grow to 140 cm (4.6 ft) and weigh as much as 6 kg (13 lb) but this one wasn’t that big. I know some of you will be having palpitations but maybe others will enjoy its beauty.
26 people like this
27 responses
crazyhorseladycx
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
23 Nov 20
oh, he/she 'tis gorgeous! i'm glad y'ave been 'njoyin' the cooler weather'n moisture, hon. sure wish i could hop a plane'n come there fer yer summer, lol. wonder if'n i could take the 'crew' 'n claim 'em 's service critters? mmmm, prolly not, lol. sure didn't know they'd climb a human! those claws look a tad'n the dangerous side. but, ya do what'cha gotta to 'scape danger, eh? thanks much fer sharin' this 'racehorse goanna', 'tis a beaut 'n fascinatin' info, too.
3 people like this
crazyhorseladycx
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv i'd sure not wish to be handy fer such'n 'scape, lol. oh, he's simply stunnin' 'n ya captured him very well 'ndeed. all the details crystal clear. jest brilliant!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
Their claws can do a lot of damage should they decide to climb up a body. He is quite handsome, isn't he?
1 person likes this
Belle Starr (Iz)
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
23 Nov 20
It looks a little too snake-like for me but at least it has logs lol
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
Very definite legs so you can relax a little.
1 person likes this
Belle Starr (Iz)
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv lol yup I’m not afraid of lizards
1 person likes this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (134426)
• Roseburg, Oregon
23 Nov 20
That is a nice looking lizard.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
He is quite handsome, isn't he?
2 people like this
Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (48389)
• Canada
23 Nov 20
It looks like a fat snake with legs on it. We used to have decorative rocks here and there in our landscaping in our yard out in the country. Although it always looked nice, the snakes loved to sun themselves on the rocks, and would blend in too easily to be seen from afar. That always gave me palpitations when I came upon one where I wasn't expecting to.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
I think that's the thing - you're not really scared of them but it's the unexpectedness that is scary.
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95082)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Nov 20
I can see the S. He is kind of cute.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
He must have a very supple spine I think.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Nov 20
My palpitations are in the fact they run up a person if pursued by dogs. I wouldn't want a lizard, any lizard, to run up my body. That would freak me out. Nice picture of the lizard.
2 people like this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Nov 20
@JudyEv A 4.6 foot 13-pound lizard would make me run screaming for the hills if it tried to run up me. Especially since it's almost as long as I am tall.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
@just4him Yes, that would be quite scary. But I have to admit I'm giggling just a little bit.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
It would freak me out too but there have been a couple of instances of such a thing happening.
2 people like this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (86732)
• United States
23 Nov 20
I dont believe I have seen this type of lizard before, so fast is he?
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (86732)
• United States
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv Ha!! A lovely photo there. He was enjoying the lime light lol
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 20
@RebeccasFarm I was quite sure he'd take off any minute. He must have been still a bit sleepy.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
Yes, they are fast. I was really surprised that this one didn't run away but he stayed while we took photos.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (457965)
• Switzerland
23 Nov 20
I really hate snakes, so I would be scared seeing this one, even if it's not dangerous.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (457965)
• Switzerland
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv This one looks more like a snake because it has a very long neck. I like the small lizards we have here in the garden, they are cute.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
@LadyDuck Yes, the little lizards are much less threatening.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
Lizards and snakes look quite similar, don't they? Especially the bigger lizards.
1 person likes this
rakski
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
23 Nov 20
I an see the S. Sexy!!!!
2 people like this
rakski
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
23 Nov 20
@JudyEv oh yes for sure
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
No doubt, one day another goanna will find it very sexy!
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17854)
• London, England
23 Nov 20
I didn't realise they grew so big, good job they don't eat us!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
I'm just glad we don't have komodo dragons here. They would scare the pants off me - to put it politely!
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (17854)
• London, England
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv Oh yeah! They are just mean and need staying away from
1 person likes this
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (129401)
• Israel
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv You said it goes up to people if no trees around and are being chased by a dog. What does it do when it goes up to people?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
If, say, stockmen are out with their dogs in the outback where there are no trees and the dogs start chasing the goanna, the goanna will try to climb up a man to get away from the dogs.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Nov 20
@Hannihar No, their claws would take the skin off.
1 person likes this
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (129401)
• Israel
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv I would not want one climbing up on me.
1 person likes this
Faye
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
23 Nov 20
I'm in the having palpitations category. At least it sounds like the worst it does it run up your side if it's scared. Nothing like that here. We have some small lizards, geckos salamanders and skinks .... but they're quite tiny
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
@FayeHazel Yes, it pretty much looks like all of those things. lol
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
This one went off into the 'garden'. Hopefully, he'll catch a rabbit for us.
1 person likes this
Faye
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv Oh dear. A rabbit? That thing can take out a rabbit. Wow. Rabbits are destructive though, so I can understand lol. It's interesting as I look at it - it looks... sort of like a small dinosaur. Or like a snake with legs
1 person likes this
Piyush bhatia
@piyushbhatia1 (11698)
• India
23 Nov 20
it is more like a snake
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
But snakes don't have legs so you're safe.
Piyush bhatia
@piyushbhatia1 (11698)
• India
23 Nov 20
@JudyEv very nice
1 person likes this
jdbc
@jdbces (1847)
• Philippines
23 Nov 20
It's good to know they're not dangerous but other people who aren't familiar would might feel scared to see them. Growing up to 4.6ft is amazing to imagine.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
If you are not familiar with them, it would be sensible to be wary of them.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
@jdbces It could be. I don't really know a lot about them.
1 person likes this
jdbc
@jdbces (1847)
• Philippines
23 Nov 20
@JudyEv I am now thinking if this may be related to the family of our "iguana" here.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (73368)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Nov 20
Personally, I think that lizard is very cute,
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
I like him too and hopefully he is eating the rabbits.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (155957)
• United States
23 Nov 20
I like reptiles as long as they aren't poisonous and don't run up my body. :-) This one is a fine looking fellow.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
They would never do that normally but, say they were out in the outback with no trees around, and drovers' dogs got after them, then they'd look to get off the ground away from the dogs.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (155957)
• United States
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv Yikes! Maybe it would be OK....They don't really scare me.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
23 Nov 20
I don't like those creepy crawlies. Keep them at a distance.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 20
He went down the road a little then into the mess that is our garden. Hopefully he'll catch one of our pesky rabbits.
1 person likes this
Nevena Zivkovic
@Nevena83 (65282)
• Serbia
23 Nov 20
It looks very unusual. It is amazing that it can weigh up to 6kg.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
They grow quite big and fat. Here is one from a previous year.
1 person likes this
Nevena Zivkovic
@Nevena83 (65282)
• Serbia
24 Nov 20
@JudyEv Incredibly. They are really big.
1 person likes this
Patricia Ocampo
@iKONICNoona (3994)
• Philippines
24 Nov 20
To be honest I am scared of reptiles , I dont know but it just creeps me out .
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
There are many who feel as you do so you're in good company.
Lucky Roo
@youfiq (2572)
• United States
24 Nov 20
at least this is better than komodo, komodo can prey on you! This lizard is cute too, especially when sunbathing in the hot sun, I think it will soon change its skin
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Nov 20
I would be very scared of the komodo dragon.