Scientific name : Varanus giganteus
Family : Varanidae
Native to : Australia
Interesting fact : Perenties can run at 40 km/h and were a favourite food-item amongst the Aborigines.
Conservation status : Not Assessed
The perentie is the second largest lizard in the world at 2.5 feet long. It has a brown body with pale spots, strong legs and a vertically flat tail. It can flick its forked tongue and sense its prey such as insects, lizards, fish, birds, rats and rabbits. Found in dry rocky areas they live up to 20 years in captivity.
