---
title: "Perentie"
description: "Varanus giganteus — Reptiles. The perentie (Varanus giganteus) is a species of monitor lizard."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/perentie
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Perentie

> Varanus giganteus — Reptiles. The perentie (Varanus giganteus) is a species of monitor lizard.

- Scientific name: *Varanus giganteus*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptiles)
- Habitats: `desert` (Desert)
- iNaturalist observations: 582
- Wikidata: [Q932293](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q932293)
- iNaturalist taxon: [39453](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/39453)

## Names

- en: Perentie
- de: Riesenwaran
- es: Varano gigante australiano
- fr: Varan Perenti
- nl: Reuzenvaraan
- pt: Varano-gigante
- pl: Waran wielki

## Countries with the most observations

AU (500)

## Summary

The perentie (Varanus giganteus) is a species of monitor lizard. It is one of the largest living lizards, after the Komodo dragon, Asian water monitor, and the crocodile monitor. Found west of the Great Dividing Range in the arid areas of Australia, it is rarely seen because of its shyness and the remoteness of much of its range from human habitation. The species is considered to be a least-concern species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Its status in many Aboriginal cultures is evident in the totemic relationships, and part of the Ngiṉṯaka dreaming, as well as bush tucker. It was…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perentie

## Photo

![Perentie](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/perentie/medium.jpg)

Photo: Felix Puff · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/77503919

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/perentie?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).