Lace monitors, Varanus varius, are the second largest lizard in Australia and belong to the only group that have a forked tongue, like snakes.
Ned and Kelly are resident lace monitors at Alexandra Park Zoo and love climbing branches and hiding in tree trunks within their enclosure.
These reptiles can grow up to 1.5 metres to two metres in length and are often found in Australian forests and coastal tablelands.
Warm weather helps them become more active, as they’re solar powered.
In order to move quickly or digest their food, they need sunlight and warmth to heat them up.
More on the home of the lace monitors, Alexandra Park Zoo
Alexandra Park Zoo was established in 1911 and is one of Queensland’s oldest continuously running zoological facilities.
It is fully accredited with the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia (ZAA) providing positive welfare conditions and operating to high standards.
Find out more about the lace monitors and other animals at the zoo here.
- Who’s who in the zoo: brown tree snake
