It uses this organ in the same manner as snakes do and can often be seen flicking their tongues in search of a meal. Like all monitors, the Argus has a forked tongue and a vomeronasal organ in the roof of its mouth. Argus Monitors have great senses, with smell being the most acute. Spiny-tailed goannas and rock monitors are eaten on a regular basis. The Argus Monitor frequently preys on the dwarf monitors that it shares its range with. This includes fish, crabs, small birds, rodents, insects and even other monitors. Its prey consists of almost anything that it can overpower. In Arnhem Land, they lay 6 to 13 eggs between January and February. This habit provides them a unique characteristic that separates them from most other monitors. They exhibit this behavior on a regular basis in captivity. This unusual behavior is used to spot potential prey or enemies from a distance or when they are threatened. The Argus will often "tripod" in captivity (animal) and in the wild, raising up on their hind legs and supporting themselves with the tail. The Argus Monitor is riparian in habits and as such, it can usually be found around a permanent source of water. These large lizards are quite fast and will run up to 100 yards/meters to the nearest tree or burrow when they are chased. Despite all this, they will eagerly forage in trees and in the water. This species is an avid digger and will dig large burrows or take over an already existing one, where they spend a sizable portion of their time. They are primarily terrestrial, meaning they spend a great deal of time on the ground. The Argus Monitor is a versatile predator and inhabits a large variety of biomes and habitats. Their color often varies with place of origin or even the individual. Most Argus Monitors are yellow in color, with a background of brown or dark tan.
It is a reasonably lean monitor and does not put on the bulk that its African cousins often do.
The size of an Argus Monitor differs greatly between the sexes, with the female reaching an average total length of three feet (90 cm), while the male reaches an average of 4-5 feet (120-140 cm), the larger sized animals being V. It is also commonly known as the Yellow-spotted Monitor. The Argus Monitor (Varanus panoptes) is a monitor lizards found in northern regions of Australia and southern New Guinea.
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