From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Spiny-tailed Monitor or Ridge-tailed Monitor (varanus acanthurus) is a small species of monitor lizard. They are native to north western Australia and live in a variety of habitats from arid to tropical regions. Spiny-tailed Monitors are usually a reddish brown with yellow markings but Color and pattern can vary with geographic origin. A distintive feature is their thick spined tail hench their name. Their diet consists mainly of insects and small rodents.
There are several subspecies including:
- Varanus acanthurus brachyurus, Common Ridge-tailed Monitor, or Yellow Ackie
- Varanus acanthurus insulanicus, Island Ridge-tailed Monitor
