Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi)
Kangaroo Island is seen as an important last stronghold for the Heath Goanna species.
Heath Goannas are unable to control their own body temperature and need to bask in the sun for at least half an hour each day before becoming active. The Heath Goanna’s skin is a darker colour than other goannas, so they can absorb and retain solar energy more readily, giving them longer times for foraging in Kangaroo Island’s cooler, denser vegetation.
In the evenings and in cooler weather, they retire into shallow burrows which are dug in the soil, or located in hollow logs, rock crevices and thick vegetation.
The Heath Goanna is powerfully built and can grow to 1.5 metres long. Their strong limbs are equipped with long, sharp, curved claws and their tails are long, slender and muscular. The teeth of the Heath Goanna are also large and curve backwards, making it difficult for captured prey to escape from their jaws.
The menu of the Heath Goanna consists of spiders, scorpions and other large insects, as well as frogs, snakes, lizards, small birds and mammals. The scavenging of carrion killed on the road is often a welcome addition. The Heath Goanna is also credited with successfully consuming rabbits introduced to Kangaroo Island earlier last century, as it will eagerly dig for prey.
Rosenberg's Heath Goanna
Keep your eyes peeled on the site and surrounds of Southern Ocean Lodge!
