Diet of the Lace Monitor Lizard(Varanus vadus)in south-eastern Australia

Abstract

Since Vmanus varius (the lace monitor or lace were no other sheep in the two study areas (Bendethera 2 goanna) is the second largest terrestrial carnivore inand Mallacoota). However, carrion may be otherwise digenous to mainland south-eastern Australia (Weavers under-represented in scats because, unless the animal 1988), its diet is of some ecological interest To date, howhas ingested fur, little identifiable material is present after ever, there have been no auantitative descri~tions of the diaestion of carrion. diet of V. varius. ~ustrali& varanids are generally considered carnivores which ingest plant material near prey only by accident, although Johnson (1972) has reported that V. gouldii in captivity ate a mixture of pet meat and vegetables. Food items recorded from stomach contents of museum specimens of Australian Varanus spp. other than V. varius ranged from arthropods and reptile eggs for the smallest species, V. giueni; to arthropods, mammals, birds, lizards, and reptile eggs for larger species such as V. panoptes, V. tn'strs, V gouldii, or V. rosenbergi (varanid diets reviewed by Losos and Green 1988). According to anecdotal accounts, the diet of V. varius includes arthropods, reptiles, amphibians, eggs, birds, small mammals and carrion including dead conspecifics (e.g. Broadbent 1910; Gogerley 1922; Hindwood 1926; Worrell 1963; Bustard 1970; Vestjens 1973; Houston 1978; Tidemam 1980; Manserah and Hdey 1985; Cogger 1986; Losos and Green: 1988; Ward and Carter 1988). Several of these accounts emphasize the importance of nesting in the diet. Gogerley (1922) even speculated that some species of low-nesting birds including the superb lyrebird (Menura superba), nest during winter to avoid predation by the . . Gohanna (Varanus varius). Vestjens (1977) examined the stomach contents of 18 V. varius from north-western New South Wales, but did not quantify hi results. He identified prey including one species of bird, egg shell of one unidentified species of bird, three species of introduced mammals, tortoise eggs, and seven groups of arthropods. Vestjens (1977) further observed 10 acts of predation by V. varius on eggs or chicks of five species of birds.