The perentie is Australia’s largest monitor lizard, reaching about 2.5 metres in length.
This powerful varanid, Varanus giganteus, lives mainly in the arid interior of Australia, including rocky ranges, deserts and spinifex country. Its long body, muscular tail and strong limbs help it travel across demanding terrain and capture prey.
Perenties are carnivores and eat a broad range of food, including reptiles, birds, small mammals, eggs and carrion. They are also capable climbers and can move quickly when threatened, despite their large size.
The perentie is sometimes confused with the lace monitor, another large Australian goanna. Lace monitors are widespread in eastern forests, while perenties are especially associated with inland habitats. Neither species is Australia’s only giant monitor: the introduced Komodo dragon is larger, but it is native to Indonesia, not Australia.