The spiny-tailed monitor (Varanus acanthurus) is a lizard species native to Australia. It is considered a relatively small monitor lizard, but its total length can reach up to around 70 cm.
One of its most distinctive features is its strong, spiny tail. This tail can be remarkably long compared with the body and gives the species its characteristic appearance. The spiny-tailed monitor uses its tail during climbing and also for defense. In rocky habitats with cracks and crevices, this adaptation can help provide both stability and protection.
