Diet of a large carnivorous lizard, Varanus varius

Abstract

The diet of a population of lace monitors, Varanus varius, at Lake Burrendong was examined over the spring, summer and autumn seasons. Carrion dominated the diet; it was eaten consistently in all seasons by all the monitors and was generally supplemented by live mammalian kills and invertebrates. Nestling birds and rabbits as well as bird and reptile eggs were eaten mainly during the flush periods of the spring and early summer. The data reported here agree with other reports for the genus Varanus: that they are generalist carnivorous predators and scavengers.