Today’s portrait is from our January trip to Wellington Zoo. Meet one of the two Lace monitor Lizards now in residence. The closeup gives you no idea of how large they are but lets you examine their skin texture really well.
Lace Monitor Lizards are one of the largest of their kind and they are are native to Eastern Australia. Adult Lace Monitors can reach up to two metres (about 6 feet) in length and can weigh up to 14kgs (30 pounds).
The lizards move quite slowly at the zoo, but I am not sure of their top speed in the wild. They can roam as far as 3 kms a day over their terrain though, that’s nearly two miles for a leisurely Monitor walk. This one was also keen to obliged with a ‘selfie’.
30 pounds! Wow, that is about what Benji weighs…but I can pick him up…though not too well with this cast on my wrist. I won’t try to pick up your lacey dude!!
Those are wonderful pictures.
And last but NOT least, a Happy Belated Gotcha Day to Taz!!
Thank you Taz had a great day!
WOW, now that’s a wonderful selfie!
Brian’s Home
Awesome lizards 🥰
Fantastic photos, and what a ginormous lizard 🦎 !
I didn’t realise they grew so big. Those are lovely photos.
Ye, I think of lizards as small things that wriggle up walls but no….
I’m glad there is glass between you and it. I bet in the wild they would move quickly if there was a meal to be had.
A lovely picture, Marjorie.
ERin
That close up really shows off that lizard’s skin. Great shot, Marjorie.
They really are big creatures in person, aren’t they?
This one was HUGE. I could not lift it!!