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Roy Ebel, PhD Candidate in Evolutionary Biology, Museums Victoria Research Institute

New study peers beneath the skin of iconic lizards to find ‘chainmail’ bone plates – and lots of them

Radiodensity heatmap of emerald tree monitors. Roy Ebel

Monitor lizards, also known in Australia as goannas, are some of the most iconic reptiles on the continent. Their lineage not only survived the mass extinction that ended the reign of non-avian dinosaurs, but also gave rise to the largest living lizards on Earth.

Today, these formidable creatures pace through forests and scrublands, flicking their tongues as they go.

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