Lace Monitor lizard (aka tree goanna). Said to grow to about 2m.
If you look closely it appears to have a tic on its neck - probably a paralysis tick but most native animals are immune to them.
The tail is more than half the whole length...
Over here, I see a lizard about a span long and it already seems huge to me 😄
A little baby!
This one is closely related (although the separation was over 10 million years ago) to the Komodo Dragon (which should really be avoided), and will flee up a tree for escape. I am sure it could give a nasty bite / scratch if it wanted to but isn't considered dangerous. Looking behind its fear, I think its eye speaks gentleness.
Wow. Don't have those here in the Midwestern USA. Excellent capture. Is he eating the bark or something underneath?
Thanks for sharing,
barondla
They look so delicate. Superb lighting and composition.
Thanks for sharing,
barondla
No they eat things on the ground like eggs, carrion, insects and small animals. Climbing up the tree is their escape from humans / predators.
Not their only escape.
I've seen one about that size and holding that pose, tippy toe around the trunk to the blind side. Clever.