Lizards and Monitors
Manly Warringah War Memorial State Park (Manly Dam) is home to at least:
27 species of lizards and monitors, including;
two threatened species, Rosenberg's Goanna and the Gully Skink.
Click through the images to check out the lizards of Manly Dam below.
"Sydney is fortunate to have a reserve like the Manly Dam Reserve in its heart and it must be valued as a special treasure for the people of our city.”
Rosenberg's Goanna
Species: Varanus Rosenbergi
Conservation Status: Threatened
Rosenberg’s Goanna reaches up to 1.5 metres in length. It is dark grey above, finely spotted with yellow or white, and with paired, blackish cross-bands from the neck to the end of the tail. The pairs of narrow, regular bands around the entire length of the tail is a distinguishing feature, separating it from the more common Lace Monitor V. varius, which has very wide, light and dark bands towards the tip of the tail. Rosenberg’s Goanna also has distinct, finely barred “lips”, whereas the Lace Monitor has far broader bands around the snout. A pale-edged black stripe runs from the eyes, across the ears and onto the neck. Juveniles are brighter in colour, having an orange wash on the sides of the face and body.
Click here to find out how these amazing goannas use termite nests to reproduce.
Gully Skink
Species: Saproscincus spectabilis
Conservation Status: Threatened
The Gully Skink is a small lizard found in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. It’s preferred habitat is cool, shaded gullies where it feeds on small insects. It may be seen on sunny rocky outcrops within gullies. Ground cover and rocky cracks are required to avoid predation from birds such as the kookaburra and pied currawong.
Meet more lizards of Manly Dam
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![Eastern Water Dragon]()
1. Eastern Water Dragon
Species: Intellagama lesueuri
Conservation status: protected
The Eastern Water Dragon is about half a metre long with rough scales, sharp spines and ancient features that resemble fairytale dragons. They are semi-aquatic and can remain submerged under water for up to 30 minutes . They are active during both the day and night time when they hunt for insects, frogs, yabbies and water insects.
Image credit: Gail Hampshire -
![Lace Monitor]()
2. Lace Monitor
Species: Varanus varius
Conservation status: Protected
Lace Monitors can grow up to 1.5-2m in length. They spend most of their time in trees, coming down to hunt for food and to breed. They move with sudden speed when threatened. Lace Monitors eat insects, reptiles, small mammals, birds, birds’ eggs and carrion. They can even smell out prey hiding underground, dig it up and eat it – all before the prey can get away. For more facts about the beautiful lace monitors click here. -
![Common Scalyfoot]()
3. Common Scalyfoot
Species: Pygopus lepidopus
Conservation status: Protected
With an average length of 120 mm the Common Scaly Foot are one of Australia’s largest legless lizards are often misidentified as snakes. When threatened, the scaly-foot flashes its thick, fleshy tongue, in an apparent mimicry of snakes.Despite their snake-like appearance legless lizards are more closely related to geckos and share many features with this group.
Image Credit: eyeweed -
![Broad-tailed Gecko]()
4. Broad-tailed Gecko
Species: Phyllurus platurus
Conservation status: Protected
The Broad or Leaf-tailed Gecko lives in urban areas and coastal sandstone heath. It is quite common in Sydney and has been known to enter garages and houses in urban areas.
You’ll spot Broad-tailed Geckos out and about at night, when they are on the hunt for insects. They will happily eat up spiders, moths, beetles and crickets. -
![Snake-eyed Wall Skink]()
5. Snake-eyed Wall Skink
Species: Cryptoblepharus virgata
Conservation status: protected -
![Red-throated Skink]()
6. Red-throated Skink
Species: Acritoscincus platynotum
Conservation status: Protected -
![Cunningham's Skink]()
7. Cunningham's Skink
Species: Egernia cunninghami
Conservation status: Protected -
![Eastern Blue-tongue Lizard]()
8. Eastern Blue-tongue Lizard
Species: Tiliqua scincoides
Conservation status: Protected
Image credit: Matt Clancy -
![Copper-tailed Skink]()
9. Copper-tailed Skink
Species: Ctenotus taeniolatus
Conservation status: Protected -
![Eastern Striped Skink]()
10. Eastern Striped Skink
Species: Ctenotus robustus
Conservation status: Protected
Image credit: Matt Clancy -
![Bar-sided Skink]()
11. Bar-sided Skink
Species: Eulamprus tenuis
Conservation status: Protected -
![Dark-flecked Garden Sunskink]()
12. Dark-flecked Garden Sunskink
Species: Lampropholis delicata
Conservation status: Protected
Image credit: Matt Clancy -
![Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink]()
13. Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink
Species: Lampropholis guichenoti
Conservation status: Protected -
![Eastern Water Skink]()
14. Eastern Water Skink
Species: Eulamprus quoyii
Conservation status: Protected -
![Three-toed Skink]()
15. Three-toed Skink
Species: Saiphos equalis
Conservation status: Protected -
![Weasel Skink]()
16. Weasel Skink
Species: Saproscincus mustelinus
Conservation status: Protected
There are many threats to reptiles in urban reserves including:
Intentional killing of larger species;
Accidental killing of foraging or basking species (especially on or alongside roadways);
Predation by introduced or feral species (particularly foxes, cats and dogs);
Loss of habitats through exotic weed encroachment (this is especially a problem for reptiles that need open basking sites);
Disturbance due to human activity (such as bush walking, mountain biking). Many native animals are unable to hunt effectively if there is ongoing movement around them. This movement not only startles the prey (which may fly off or run away) but forces the predator to consider the source of movement (Is this a threat? Is this person intending to do harm?). Disturbance reduces feeding opportunities (as well as mating opportunities) and can be the main reason for species decline in urban reserves.