Goanna smaller than the arm of an adult human. The smallest of these, the short-tailed monitor ("Varanus brevicuda") reaches only in length. They survive on smaller prey, such as insects and mice. Goannas combine predatory and scavenging behaviours. A goanna will prey on any animal it can catch and is small enough to eat whole. Goannas have been blamed for the death of sheep by farmers, though most likely erroneously, as goannas are also eaters of carrion and are attracted to rotting meat. Most goannas are dark-coloured, with greys, browns, blacks and greens featuring prominently; however, white is also common. Many
Goanna goanna oil as an important bush medicine, and it also became a common medicine among Caucasians in Australia's early days. Said to be a cure-all, and possessing amazing powers of penetration (passing through metal as if it were not there), it was sold among early settlers like snake oil in the Old West of North America. A goanna features as the heroic figure ‘Mr Lizard’ in the Australian author May Gibbs’ children’s books Snugglepot and Snugglepie. A bronze statue of the goanna ‘Mr Lizard’ has been placed outside the State Library of Victoria. Goanna A goanna is any of several