Water Monitor by Chaosphoto
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This 1.5 metre long girl was a resident of a favourite picnic area only reachable by boat on the Ord River in Western Australia. She nearly always showed up and would sit at your feet and eat out of your hand. I know she only liked me for the food though!!
Recently it has been found that like snakes, these actually have a poisonous bite but it's in their saliva along with nasty bacteria.

Comments (14)
Great portrait. You didn't threaten her she didn't bite. Simple.
Had the cheeky girl climb into my lap one day wanting my sandwich.
Hmmmm - she is a little nasty looking - like a giant lizard! Stunning image though. I love the eye detail! This reminds me of a meerkat in the Kgalagadi also eating out of my hand until I had nothing left. She then proceeded to bite my bright pink toenail polish and in the process left a neat little hole in the bottom of my toe. She must have thought it was something delicious to eat. I cleaned the wound immediately with a strong anti-bacterial wash and it healed quickly and without problems! You be careful around this critter!
Been messing with reptiles since I was a child and I'm also a registered snake handler. Of all the reptiles I have handled including crocodiles these monitors are the ones I have the most respect for. That mouth is a very nasty place.
I think my dog likes me for the same reason, but he's not as photogenic as your water monitor.
But probably far more trustworthy :)
excellent
Great shot with perfect focus. So cool looking.
Thanks Bruce (if I remember correctly).
Be careful! Nice shot. Aloha
Still got all my fingers, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,, thats right isn't it :). Used to play goanna fishing with them when I was an irresponsible kid. Grab the tail and backpedal fast enough so they couldn't get round and sink the teeth in then let go and run once it got boring hehe. Too smart to do that now.
I do believe that they are related to the Komodo Dragon and their bite is a nasty thing - disease ridden and all. they are cool though. Great capture
Sure are related Mike. This is one of the larger ones but our biggest get to 2 metres or so which means we are a tad too big for them to hunt. We used to have much larger ones but I believe our indiginous brothers hunted them out way before us whiteys got here.
Great great capture !!
Thaks G, really pleased you like it
I miss seeing the Bungarra's, It's been awhile since I've been out bush. Great images Martin
Marvelous capture and fantastic animal !!!
Knowing that, do you still feed them by hand?
Strangely yes I do. I guess I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes :)
very nice shot, and if her bite is poisonous...and you didnt get one? then Im pretty sure she either really liked you OR she adheres to the old addage, never bite the hand that feeds you ::gigglsnort::
Messing with those Goannas is much like messing with women. I know if I keep doing it I am going to get bitten but I can't help myself lol
Stunning image my friend!!!!Bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx Whylma
Thanks very much Whylma :)
An excellent study! Really fine shot.