Varanus eremius My favorite lizard, the pygmy monitor lizard Varanus eremius , like myself, hunts lizards. Varanus eremius are common in Australian sandy deserts, judging from the frequency of their unique and conspicuous tracks. Unlike larger goannas, they are active all year long. However, this beautiful little red Varanus is extremely wary and very seldom seen. Nevertheless, a great deal about its activities can be inferred from its tracks.
Sands constitute a natural event recorder, leaving a record of what creatures have moved past.
Strong winds regularly dull and erase all tracks. Although it took quite a while, I eventually became fairly skilled at reading the record in the sand. Tracks are difficult to see during mid-day when the sun is high or on overcast days. Tracks are best seen by looking into the light. It is almost like becoming the lizard yourself.