ridge-tailed monitor; spiny-tailed monitor
A species of monitor lizard native to Australia, known for its spiny tail. The Japanese name is a direct description: トゲ (spine) + オオ (large) + トカゲ (lizard).
The ridge-tailed monitor inhabits arid regions of Australia.
Some people keep spiny-tailed monitors as pets.
オオトカゲ means 'monitor lizard' in general; トゲオオオトカゲ specifies the ridge-tailed monitor species.
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is very rare and mostly found in older or specialized texts; learners will almost always encounter the katakana form.
Compound of 棘 (とげ, 'spine') + 大 (おお, 'large') + 蜥蜴 (とかげ, 'lizard'), literally 'spiny large lizard'. The katakana spelling reflects the convention for animal names.