Squamata

Varanus brevicauda is the smallest extant species of the varanidea family ^{1, 2} , an adult may only reach 20 cm in total length, and only weigh 8-10 grams ³ . This species is also known as the pygmy monitor or the pygmy goanna ² , but despite its small size it retains much of the threat display behaviour which is also seen in the much larger species of varanidea ³ . This ‘bravado’ may take the form of an inflated throat, defensive lunging and hissing ³ .

This photograph shows an individual Varanus brevicauda on red sand, a typical substrate of much of the known range of this species. It was taken by 'alumroot' - link to his/her site under reference list.

The first specimens where described by Boulenger (1898). These specimens were collected from the Sherlock River region of the north-western part of Australia ⁴ . Later one was collected in 1964, this extended the known range east to the Tanami desert region of the Northern Territory (Originally cited as; “unpublished Slater (1968)” in Pianka (1970) ¹ ). It was so thought for some time that brevicauda only inhabited the Northern Territory ⁵ . This was at least the case until 1967, when, further specimens were found and recorded to the south. This site was near the Lake Carnegie of western central Australia ¹ . Now the generally excepted known range of brevicauda is central ^{1, 3} and north western ⁴ Australia. The known localities of brevicauda encompass the Great Sandy Desert, and it has been suggested this expanse, may have served as a link between them ¹ . (Continued)