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Feathers, Fur and Fins: Observing a goanna

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A goanna sits on grass
Feathers, Fur and Fins: Observing a goanna

SUBJECTS:  Science

YEARS:  F–2


The goanna is the largest of Australia's lizards.

It is also called a monitor lizard.

Observe (look carefully at) these scaly reptiles as Don Spencer describes the key features of the Australian goanna.


Things to think about

  1. 1.There are many different types of lizards. What does a lizard look like? What body covering does a lizard have? What body parts do all lizards have?
  2. 2.Watch how the goanna uses its tongue. What do you think it's doing with its tongue? Notice the different patterns and markings on each goanna's skin. Why do goannas try to move into the sunlight?
  3. 3.Draw some different types of goannas with different skin patterns. Show how the skin patterns help them camouflage (hide) themselves. Goannas dig and can climb trees. What body parts help them do these things? Draw a picture to show how these actions help a goanna live.
  4. 4.Find out the kinds of places where goannas live, and draw some of these places. Why are they good places for goannas? Find out what goannas eat. How do they find, catch and eat their prey (food)?



Date of broadcast: 17 Sep 1986


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Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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