THE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF AUSTRALIA - MONITORS

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
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REPTILES OF THE WORLD SPECIES LISTS

SPOTTED MONITORS
(or "Panoptes")

NORTHERN YELLOW SPOTTED MONITOR
 Floodplain Goanna
Varanus panoptes panoptes
 and the
DESERT SPOTTED MONITOR
also often commonly called a Bungarra in WA
Varanus panoptes rubidus

Yellow Spotted Monitors (Varanus panoptes) are often confused with the Sand Monitor (Varanus gouldii) and people often dispute the identity of some specimens.

Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes) feeding on a dead wallaby - photographed on south-western Cape York, Queensland
A large Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes) feeding on a dead wallaby - photographed on south-western Cape York, Queensland

 


Approximate distribution of Yellow Spotted Monitors (Varanus panoptes)

Note that a 3rd subspecies called the Argus Monitor (Varanus panoptes horni) (RED ON MAP) which is found in New Guinea and some Torres Strait Islands.

According to Glen Storr of the WA Museum the Argus Monitor (Varanus panoptes horni) is a synonym of Varanus panoptes panoptes
Approximate distribution of Yellow Spotted Monitors (Varanus panoptes)

The Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes) is Shown in GREEN on the map.
It is also found on some offshore islands

The Desert Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes rubidus) (ORANGE ON MAP) may have a solid yellow tail tip like most Sand Monitors (Varanus gouldii),
whereas Varanus panoptes panoptes usually has a yellowish tail tip which as some banding on it.

Desert Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes rubidus) photographed north of Meekatharra

Desert Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes rubidus) photographed north of Meekatharra, WA
- Copyright Jean and Fred Hort "Peace" by jeans_Photos is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .

 


Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes) inserts its head inside this dead wallaby for a feed.



This Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes) has blood on its head after putting its inside this dead wallaby for a feed.
Notice the banding on the tail which is commonly seen on this species.



This very large Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes) has a belly full of food


Young Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), Darwin area
Young Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), Darwin area


Northern Yellow Spotted Monitors Varanus panoptes panoptes
Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), Darwin area


Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), Darwin area
Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), Darwin area


Juvenile Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), Darwin area
Juvenile Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), Darwin area


Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), photographed in the "Top End", NT
Northern Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes panoptes), photographed in the "Top End", NT



Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes) photographed at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park & Zoo, Childers, Qld.

Northern Yellow Spotted Monitors Varanus panoptes panoptes
The picture above was taken on the side of the Stuart Highway North of Katherine NT.
This Yellow Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes?) allowed me to approach close enough to take this picture before running away.

Note that the pattern on this lizard and the one below are not typical of this species, and some people consider these to be Sand Monitors (Varanus gouldii), however its is also not typical of either species.
Many people believe that more scientific research needs to be done on Varanus panoptes

 

Northern Yellow Spotted Monitors Varanus panoptes panoptes
The 2 monitors in this photo that were found dead on the road north of Katherine NT (in the general region where the lizard in photo above this photo was seen) show one of the problems of grabbing a meal on a roadway.
Notice the banding on the tail tip.


YELLOW SPOTTED MONITOR Varanus panoptes
Spotted Monitors (Varanus panoptes) often stand on their back legs!
The lizard above appears to be a Desert Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes rubidus)

.

Goanna Warning Sign
This sign was at a reserve in Port Macquarie, NSW - the Goanna in the picture is a Spotted Monitor (Varanus panoptes), however that species does not occur in NSW.
The monitors in that area that can be a problem are Lace Monitors (Varanus varius)


LINKS OF INTEREST

Varanus panoptes STORR, 1980
Reptile Database

Argus Monitor (Varanus panoptes horni)
Monitors of the World

Click here for more Information about Australian Monitors


RECOMMENDED AMAZON BOOKS
(Affiliate commission earned)

Varanoid Lizards of the World A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia 5th edition Edition

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases


OTHER LINKS OF INTEREST

Find a Random species of Australian Reptile

Visit the Australian Herpetology Website

Monitors of The World

Monitors of Australia

Lizards of the World

Monitors
of
The World

Monitors
of
Australia

Lizards
of The World

AUSTRALIAN MONITOR SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

Monitors of South Australia

MONITOR LIZARDS Goannas Varanids Varanidae NSW

Queensland MONITOR LIZARDS Goannas Varanids Varanidae

NORTHERN TERRITORY MONITOR LIZARDS Goannas Varanids Varanidae

WESTERN AUSTRALIA MONITOR LIZARDS Goannas Varanids Varanidae

Monitors of Victoria - Goannas Varanids Varanidae

ACT MONITOR LIZARDS Goannas Varanids Varanidae

Monitors
of South
Australia

Monitors
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NSW

Monitors
of
Qld

Monitors
of
NT

Monitors
of
WA

Monitors
of
Victoria

Monitors
of the
ACT


AUSTRALIAN REPTILE SPECIES LISTS BY STATE OR TERRITORY

Reptiles of South Australia
REPTILES OF VICTORIA
 REPTILES OF NSW REPTILES OF QUEENSLAND REPTILES OF NORTHERN TERRITORY REPTILES OF Western Australia Reptiles of the ACT(Canberra)

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Reptiles
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Reptiles of Tasmania

MORE REPTILE SPECIES LISTS

Reptiles of Lord Howe Island

Reptiles of Christmas Island

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Reptiles of Norfolk Island

Reptiles of Australia

Selection of Australian Frogs

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Updated 31 May 2025


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