Activity areas and daily movements of an arboreal monitor lizard, Varanus tristis (Squamata: Varanidae) during the breeding season

During the breeding season, in the western Great Victoria Desert, Western Australia, male Varanus tristis move greater daily distances (186.5 m) than females (99.7 m) and have larger activity areas (40.3 ha vs 3.7 ha). V. tristis retreat predominantly to live and dead upright Eucalyptus gongylocarpa (marble gum) trees that have hollows in their trunks and limbs. There is no observable difference between males and females in their preferred habitat, but females are found more frequently in a lesser number of preferred retreats during the breeding season.