Threats: Habitat loss and predation by cats and foxes
Will they visit?: Gould’s Monitors are known to traverse through home gardens located near large reserves and intact bushlands
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region
Black-headed Monitor – (CC)Robert Browne-Cooper . This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)
Black-headed Monitor – (CC)Ken Foster. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia License (Atlas of Living Australia)
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Hollows in large trees, large logs, burrows and large rocks
Diet: Birds, reptiles, frogs, and mammals
Water: Shallow dish or large ponds
ReWild Benefit: Pest control
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Black-Headed Monitors are a small goanna and are surprisingly good climbers and prefer areas with dense shrubs and tall trees. They will shelter in hollow logs, in tree hollows, in burrows, and near large rock crevices. They will traverse through home gardens located within their home ranges in search of food and water.
Novel Shelter
Not required.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Black-Headed Monitors will feed on birds, lizards, frogs, and mammals (including rats). They are pursuit predators and will chase their prey.
Providing sources of water
Black-Headed Monitors are known to visit frog ponds to bathe and in search of prey. If you have a large frog pond, ensure you partially submerge a a large rock or log within the pond to ensure a goanna can enter an exit a pond safely.
ReWild Benefits
Black-Headed Monitors are predators and are a sign the ecosystem is working well. Have you seen one in your garden or neighbourhood? You can record your sighting in the the Atlas of Living Australia!
