Gould's Goanna
Gould's GoannaGould's GoannaGould's GoannaGould's Goanna

Gould's Goanna

Varanus gouldii

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
53 Verified records at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The sand goanna (Varanus gouldii), also known commonly as Gould's monitor, the racehorse goanna, and the sand monitor, is a species of large Australian monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. Wikipedia →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Gould's Goanna sighting in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, based on 53 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

Perentie
LC Endemic

Perentie

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus giganteus

20–30% · Possible
Black-headed Monitor
LC

Black-headed Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus tristis

10–20% · With luck
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

80–90
Jan
60–70
Feb
50–60
Mar
30–40
Apr
5–10
May
10–20
Jun
5–10
Jul
10–20
Aug
40–50
Sep
50–60
Oct
50–60
Nov
60–70
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
40–50%
2 Flinders Ranges National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
40–50%
3 Ningaloo Marine Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
4 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
10–20%
5 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
6 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Gould's Goanna in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

About 48% of wildlife watchers report a Gould's Goanna sighting in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, based on 53 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Gould's Goanna in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Gould's Goanna in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in our monthly data.

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