Perentie: Varanus giganteus

The Perentie, Varanus giganteus, is Australia’s largest monitor lizard. “Goanna” is a broad Australian name for monitor lizards; Perentie is the accepted common name for this particular species. [1] [2] WildGuardian’s MEDIUM label does not mean it is an animal to approach. A large monitor has powerful limbs, claws, teeth and a strong tail, and it needs room to move away.

Perenties are generally associated with remote arid and semi-arid country. A sighting is a wildlife observation, not an opportunity to feed, touch or test the animal’s tolerance of people. Keep back and let it choose an exit.

What a Perentie looks like

A Perentie has a long neck, forked tongue, substantial limbs with five clawed toes and a powerful tail. It can grow to about 2.5 metres. [3] Its dark body is marked with pale spots or bands, a pattern that helps break up its outline in rocky and arid settings.

Size, colour and a long tail are not enough to identify a monitor safely. Other goannas can occur in Australian arid areas, and a large animal can be difficult to judge from a distance. Do not approach to inspect its tongue, claws or markings. A monitor may hiss, inflate the throat, flee or defend itself when it feels threatened. [3]

Range, shelter and behaviour

The species occurs through arid and semi-arid Australia, from western Queensland to coastal Western Australia. Rocky hills and outcrops are particularly relevant habitat, with deep rock crevices and burrows used for shelter. [3] The Australian Museum also notes that Perenties use burrows and shade to escape intense daytime heat. [1]

They can dig and climb using their strong limbs. Their relatively low reptilian metabolic rate helps them conserve water and energy in dry country. [1] When travelling, a Perentie may sprint on all fours or briefly on its hind legs, using the tail for balance. [3]

Perenties are opportunistic carnivores. They eat reptiles, birds, eggs, insects, mammals and carrion. [1] [3] This varied diet is ecological context, not a reason to offer food. Feeding a wild monitor can alter its behaviour and bring people closer to claws, teeth and a defensive tail.

Safer encounters in the outback

Stop at a respectful distance and keep the animal’s route to cover open. Do not surround it with people, dogs or vehicles. Never try to catch it, put it into a car or move it from a road verge unless you are acting under appropriate wildlife authority direction.

Use care around burrows, rock crevices and shade shelters. Do not place hands where you cannot see, and do not corner a Perentie against a rock, fence or vehicle. The Northern Territory Government advises that all lizards can bite and that authorised handling requires appropriate protection; casual handling is not appropriate. [4]

If you find an injured animal, contact the relevant state wildlife authority or a licensed wildlife rescue service. Do not apply snake-bite procedures simply because a Perentie is a large reptile; that protocol is for specified snake and highly venomous invertebrate bites, not monitor-lizard injuries. [6]

If a bite or scratch breaks skin

A defensive bite or scratch can break skin. Northern Territory guidance advises cleaning and disinfecting monitor-lizard bites or scratches promptly, and notes infection risk from bacteria in a monitor’s mouth. [4] Healthdirect says any animal bite that breaks skin should receive medical advice as soon as possible. [5]

Wash a minor wound with soap and running water, remove visible debris, dry it with a clean cloth and cover it with a clean dressing. [5] Seek urgent care for a large or deep wound, an injury to the face or head, or bleeding that will not stop. Call 000 for urgent medical help where needed. [5]

Frequently asked questions

Is a Perentie a goanna?

Yes. Perentie is a species of monitor lizard, and “goanna” is a broader Australian name for monitors. [1] [2]

Where might I see one?

Perenties occur in arid and semi-arid country from western Queensland to coastal Western Australia, often around rocky hills and outcrops. [3]

Are Perenties venomous snakes?

No. They are monitor lizards. They can still defend themselves with teeth, claws and tail, so they should never be handled or cornered.

What should I do if one bites or scratches me?

Clean and disinfect the wound, cover it and obtain medical advice if skin is broken. Seek urgent care for serious wounds. [4] [5]

References

1. [1] The Red Centre — Australian Museum
2. [2] Varanus giganteus, Perentie — Queensland Government WildNet
3. [3] Simpson-Strzelecki Dunefields biodiversity fact sheet — South Australian Government
4. [4] Caring for lizards — Northern Territory Government
5. [5] Animal and human bites — Healthdirect Australia
6. [6] Bites and stings — Queensland Government