western australia

racehorse goanna

Out my window yesterday - a racehorse goanna

@JudyEv (382412)

Rockingham, Australia

February 1, 2021 4:45am CST

Yesterday, while sitting at my desk, I spotted this sand monitor/racehorse goanna; bungarra/monitor lizard coming towards the house. They come to get a drink at the bowl at the base of the birdbath. This fills automatically when the birdbath fills. I called Vince to get his camera and we were able to get some nice shots of it. For some reason, it didn’t scamper off but just stayed in full view on the verandah. In the end, we got sick of taking photos of it and left it to its own devices.

This one would be nearly full-size. You can see his tail takes up a good half of his length. I know he will be too snake-like for some but you can’t help but admire his markings and those strong claws. If I’d known we’d be taking photos out there, I might have swept up the leaves! My apologies.

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31 responses

@msdivkar (23356)

• India

1 Feb 21

You get a good view of wild animals. These lizards were formerly used to climb steep hills. Their claws are indeed very strong and can take the weight of a man easily. So our history says.

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@msdivkar (23356)

• India

1 Feb 21

@Fleura Maratha soldiers who fought bravely with Moguls and other Muslim leaders used these reptiles to climb the steep hills. They use to train them specially. Tie a rope to its waist and send it up. It will pierce its claws deep and hold tight. A person will climb up on that rope and tie it to some tree so others can follow him. This is history. There is famous story of King Shivaji's brave soldier Tanhaji climbing Kondana fort with the help of this lizard.

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@Fleura (35097)

• United Kingdom

1 Feb 21

Really? Do you mean to pull people up?

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@Fleura (35097)

• United Kingdom

1 Feb 21

@msdivkar Wow that's something I have never heard before, thanks!

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@rhuenz (10680)

•

1 Feb 21

Are this kind will not harm? I think this is similar to what other people are catching.

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@rhuenz (10680)

•

1 Feb 21

@JimBo452020 i am not sure but its similar,i saw they are selling for food.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

They are quite timid and not dangerous. The aborigines like them to eat but most people wouldn't eat them.

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@rhuenz (10680)

•

1 Feb 21

@JudyEv i see..

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@LadyDuck (502729)

• Italy

1 Feb 21

Poor thing, he stayed there and posed for you and you got sick of taking photos.

How big is it? It looks pretty big, may be like an iguana. Do not worry about the leaves, as soon as a little breeze blows they are everywhere.

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@LadyDuck (502729)

• Italy

1 Feb 21

@JudyEv It's a bit boy, I think I would not dare to approach.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

We were telling him 'thank you very much. You can go now' but he still stayed. lol It was about 4 foot long so more or less full size.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

@LadyDuck If he had taken one step towards us, we would have backed off very quickly but I've never heard of them being aggressive.

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@ZedSmart (19839)

• Philippines

1 Feb 21

That's nice and I think they're not a scary creature.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

They are more frightened of us than we are of them. They are not at all aggressive.

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@Shunnan (2130)

•

1 Feb 21

It is good to take picture with wild animals but safety is important.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

We are used to seeing these and they are not at all dangerous but it's always sensible to be careful.

@UriahAnne (701)

•

1 Feb 21

Wow it is big. Are they. endangered species now.?.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

It was about 4 foot long. They are not endangered so that's good.

@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

@UriahAnne Maybe it's a different species.

@UriahAnne (701)

•

1 Feb 21

@JudyEv here is endangered now.if you caught it you'll be in prison..lucky there it's not

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@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

1 Feb 21

Woh, that's a big guy! We get "lizards" but they don't get too big . . . probably not even the length of the tail of your goanna there.

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@much2say (57760)

• Los Angeles, California

2 Feb 21

My eyes have deceived me . . . I didn't think this one was THAT big. Ok, well, then, ours grows to about the size of his toe

.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

These are the biggest of our lizards and grow to about 4'6". We reckon this one is about 4 ft.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 21

@much2say I zoom in to get a detailed photo but then it's hard to tell the size. I should have put a match-box next to him - NOT!!

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@DaddyEvil (174658)

• United States

1 Feb 21

Wow! He's a big ugly critter! I'm not sure I'd want him wandering up on my back porch!

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@DaddyEvil (174658)

• United States

1 Feb 21

@JudyEv As long as you didn't go out and pet him, I guess that's alright.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

@DaddyEvil We were surprised he didn't run away. Usually, you have to take photos through the window.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

It's okay. He pretty soon wandered off again.

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@rakski (156652)

• Philippines

2 Feb 21

oh my goodness, a big one

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@rakski (156652)

• Philippines

2 Feb 21

@JudyEv I do not like them.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 21

Yes, it's about 4 ft long.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 21

@rakski I can understand that.

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@MarshaMusselman (38865)

• Midland, Michigan

2 Feb 21

Lol, I didn't even notice the leaves. It looks big but I'm guessing it's not as I can almost see a ladder or still too get an idea of is size.

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@MarshaMusselman (38865)

• Midland, Michigan

2 Feb 21

@JudyEv so it's a decent size then. Not crazy big but bigger than iguanas.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb 21

@MarshaMusselman About 4 foot long so he is about full size.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 21

I trimmed the photo so you could see the lizard better but then, of course, there is nothing to compare it with.

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@DianneN (254926)

• United States

1 Feb 21

They have to drink, too. Lizards don’t bother me.

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@DianneN (254926)

• United States

2 Feb 21

So cute. I can only imagine what you'd find in an inground pool if you had one.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb 21

@DianneN It might be full of lizards swimming around!!

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

This one is a blue-tongued lizard (sleepy lizard) and he is cooling off in his drinking water.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

1 Feb 21

He does have some interesting markings. Are they dangerous? One of your reasons not to come to Australia?

Great picture of him. I'm sure your others are just as nice.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

1 Feb 21

@JudyEv Those reasons make me want to visit more.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

@just4him Oh dear, my plan is failing!!

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

They have been known to climb a person but only to get away from dogs. They just head for something tall. But they're not dangerous otherwise. Haha - yes, one of my reasons not to come to Australia!!

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

2 Feb 21

Wow, big lizard! Does it bite? Is it dangerous?

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 21

It would only bite if you cornered it and tried to pick it up. They are not aggressive at all and more interested in getting away from you.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Feb 21

@oahuwriter Haha - yes. The huge bit overshadows the shy, doesn't it?

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26773)

• United States

4 Feb 21

@JudyEv Shy & huge.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

1 Feb 21

Oh my gosh! He is huge. Wow!

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

He was about 4 ft long so would be pretty much fully grown.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 21

@CarolDM Usually we have to take photos through the window but this guy was happy to pose for us.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

1 Feb 21

@JudyEv Oh my, I like glass in between these and me!

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@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

1 Feb 21

Look at that fella you sure have a lot to look at there Judy

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@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

5 Feb 21

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

We don't get bored very often.

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@wolfgirl569 (135944)

• Marion, Ohio

1 Feb 21

To me he is just ugly

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@wolfgirl569 (135944)

• Marion, Ohio

2 Feb 21

@JudyEv It is and we dont get too many of them usually. Never anything that big. Most would fit on your flat hand.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

1 Feb 21

Fair enough. I guess it's too cold for lizards where you are.

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@JESSY3236 (22244)

• United States

2 Feb 21

cool. My mother sent me an article about wildlife over there.

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb 21

That's nice. We have some very interesting creatures here.

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@LindaOHio (222728)

• United States

2 Feb 21

Cool! Great photo of your visitor. I don't mind creatures such as this as long as they aren't poisonous!

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 21

No, he's not poisonous and not even aggressive. I'd be out of there in a shot if he were.

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@LindaOHio (222728)

• United States

2 Feb 21

@JudyEv He's really cool looking.

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@dgobucks226 (37621)

•

3 Feb 21

Leaping Lizards! That's looks like a pretty big lizard. Do you often get these unwarranted guests? Will they attack pets?

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

3 Feb 21

We see them around each summer. They are not aggressive although if one was hungry enough, they might attack a kitten.

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@dgobucks226 (37621)

•

4 Feb 21

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@Rashnag (30597)

• Surat, India

2 Feb 21

I saw it for the first time. Thanks for sharing dear

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@JudyEv (382412)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Feb 21

Thanks for commenting. I think you would have big lizards there too. Is that right?

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@Rashnag (30597)

• Surat, India

2 Feb 21

@JudyEv I haven't seen big lizards. Only small ones. Your welcome dear

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