Super Bells Phase Lace Monitor

Super Bells Phase Lace Monitor are the only lizards that have a deeply forked tongue like that of a snake. There is a Jacobson’s organ on the roof of the mouth, also like that of snakes. The tongue constantly flicks in and out, transferring information to the Jacobson’s organ.

This sensitive chemoreceptor can detect minute traces of odours in the air, whether from a prey item, a predator, or a potential mate. Because the tongue is forked, the lizard can receive information from both sides of its head, and figure out what direction the odours are coming from.

This sense is so good, they can tell the difference between prey items from a long distance and in which direction they lie, whether another lace monitor in the area is male or female, and whether it is a resident or non-resident to the area. Imagine being able to know all that with your tongue!

Lace monitors are among the largest lizards in the world. Averaging 1.5m in length, they can grow up to 2m. Two thirds of this length is made up of their tail, which can be twice the length of their body!

The length of their tail is used for balance when climbing, as a whip for defence, for swimming, and for posturing to rival lace monitors!

Feeding of Bells Phase Lace Monitor

Bells Phase Lace Monitor are not fussy carnivores! They will eat anything they can fit in their mouth, including possum, rabbit, wallaby, insects and sometimes even eggs as a treat. Due to their sharp teeth, keepers feed them with tongs. Target feeding like this ensures that all the individuals get enough food.

Egg-cellent parenting

Bells Phase Lace Monitor don’t waste time building their own nests to lay their eggs in. Instead, females use their long, very strong claws to dig a hole in the side of a termite mound and lay 6-12 eggs inside.

The termites, like good property owners, repair the hole quickly, trapping the eggs inside. This keeps the eggs safe and incubated at a constant temperature of 30°C. After around 7 months, and sometimes even longer, the female lace monitor will return to the site to dig out the hatched baby lace monitors.