Black-headed Monitor
Black-headed MonitorBlack-headed MonitorBlack-headed MonitorBlack-headed Monitor

Black-headed Monitor

Varanus tristis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
10 Verified records at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The black-headed monitor or black-tailed monitor (Varanus tristis) is a relatively small species of monitor lizards native to Australia. It is occasionally also called the mournful monitor, freckled monitor (Varanus tristis orientalis) or the racehorse monitor, a name it shares with the Gould's monitor due to their exceptional speed. It is placed in the subgenus Odatria. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Monitor sighting in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, based on 10 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Gould's Goanna
LC

Gould's Goanna

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus gouldii

40–50% · Likely
Perentie
LC Endemic

Perentie

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus giganteus

20–30% · Possible
Rusty Desert Monitor
LC Endemic

Rusty Desert Monitor

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus eremius

10–20% · With luck
Pygmy Mulga Monitor
LC Endemic

Pygmy Mulga Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus gilleni

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
30–40
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
10–20
Oct
30–40
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
2 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
3 Nitmiluk National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
4 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black-headed Monitor in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

About 19% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Monitor sighting in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, based on 10 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black-headed Monitor in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Black-headed Monitor in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in our monthly data.

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