Reptiles - Lizards and Geckos

Goannas

Gould's goanna

The largest and most recognisable lizard of the Daintree rainforest is Gould's goanna (Varanus gouldii), Australia's most-common goanna. This lizard, a type of monitor lizard related to the Komodo dragon, Varanus komodoensis. Growing up to two metres (over six feet) in length, this impressive-looking lizard is light tan with small, pastel-coloured spots on its body and tail. They are carnivorous predators but will also scavenge, particularly roadkilled small animals. They are not normally dangerous to humans but will bite if provoked. Interesting goanna fact: When goannas feel threatened, they can rear up on their hind legs as a defensive posture (but mostly they head up the nearest tree.

Dragons

Boyd's forest dragon

Not the fire-breathing creatures of myth and legend, but interesting animals in their own right. One, Boyd's forest dragon (Lophosaurus boydii, formerly Hypsilurus boydii), is unique to the Daintree Rainforest. This spiky-looking lizard which looks a bit like an iguana or tuatara, is diurnal and mostly arboreal, spending much of its time on the trunks of trees. They are predators, but mostly the sit-and-wait sort, only going after prey they spot from their tree trunk positions. Once on the ground though, they may cover more ground - up to a radius of around 100 metres. Boyd's forest dragon is one of the few reptiles which do not bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature, simply allowing it to fluctuate with the ambient temperature. There are also Eastern water dragons (Physignathus lesueurii) found in the Daintree area, but they are much less common there, despite ranging throughout Eastern Australia

Geckos

Tree Dtella (common gecko)

Small, soft-skinned reptiles with large, lidless eyes and long, cylindrical tails. They are nocturnal and insectivorous. Many of the ones in the Cape Tribulation area are pinkish in appearance.- In many areas, including the Daintree Rainforest, they tend to colonise human habitations. The most common species in this area is the Tree Dtella, Gehyra dubia. Geckos distinctive in that they are among the few lizards and lizard-like reptiles to vocalise. They make their presence known at night with their distinctive, birdlike chirps. Some geckos are also famous for their ability to "stick" to walls and ceilings with their specialised foot pads.

Skinks

Fire-tailed skink

Skinks are probably the most-common lizards - what most people think of when they hear the word "lizard". In Australia alone, there are more than 300 speciesd of skink. They are quite variable in size, ranging from 30mm to 300mm. They are also quite variable in body form and proportion, while still obviously being skinks. The Daintree area has a number of species of skink, some beautifully coloured and patterned. A good example is the fire-tailed skink (Morethia taeniopleura), shown above.