Australian monitor lizards have disproportionately strong jaws and extremely sharp teeth, which when combined with a tenacious
nature can make an encounter with even a very small species like this Storr's Monitor (Varanus storri) extremely painful,
as American ecologist Andy Day discovered. He kindly offered to help me photograph this lizard.
"Be careful," I warned him, "these guys can really bite."
"I've had worse" he replied confidently. Not for long. This lizard bit him twice, the second time hanging on for five minutes.
It let go when it had swallowed too much blood. The lizard was released unharmed. Imagine what a big Lace monitor would do!