Yellow-spotted Monitors
I thought I was tracking a Sand Goanna. I had seen a large animal moving purposefully near the water’s edge when I was camped at Kununurra in the Kimberley. I often stalk an animal for hours if it will let me. In this case, the large male let me stalk him for ages because he was more interested in stalking something himself: a female. She eventually allowed him to mate with her—it was a surprisingly calm event. But he inflated his throat pouch in an aggressive gesture towards me nevertheless.
When I was back home and double-checking the identity of this goanna, I was surprised to find it was a Yellow-spotted Monitor. I had never heard of it before, even though this handsome species is common across the Top End.
