Summer is reptile season in South Australia’s arid far north. This fine specimen was photographed out the window of our hired four-wheel drive on the Borefield Road, which connects Olympic Dam and Roxby Downs with the Ooonadatta Track. As with other varanids, these monitors lay their eggs in termite mounds and sport spectacular skin patterns and a signature forked tongue. This individual was about three feet in length, from nose to tail.