Sand goanna Sand goanna The sand goanna ("Varanus gouldii" ) is a species of large Australian monitor lizard, also known as Gould's monitor, the sand monitor, or racehorse goanna. In some Aboriginal languages, the sand goanna is called "bungarra", a term also commonly used by non-Aboriginal people in Western Australia. In Pitjantjatjara and other central Australian languages it is called "Tingka". The name "sand monitor" can be used to describe various other species. The specific name, "gouldii", is a Latinised form of the name of the scientist who first described this species, English ornithologist John Gould. "Nota bene": A trinomial authority in
Goanna desert-dwelling species also feature yellow-red tones. Camouflage ranges from bands and stripes to splotches, speckles, and circles, and can change as the creature matures, with juveniles sometimes being brighter than adults. Like most lizards, goannas lay eggs. Most lay eggs in a nest or burrow, but some species lay their eggs inside termite mounds. This offers protection and incubation; additionally, the termites may provide a meal for the young as they hatch. Unlike some other species of lizards, goannas do not have the ability to regrow limbs or tails. The name goanna derived from iguana, since early European bush settlers