[7] A species first described in 1955 by South Australian curator Francis John Mitchell, nominating the holotype as a specimen obtained at Lake Hubert in the Northern Territory.

Varanus glebopalma is extremely timid and able to move quickly, usually hunting in daylight hours; although activity at dusk or night is noted in descriptions this is likely to be a response to disturbance by the observers.

[9] Orthopterans, species of grasshoppers, are sought in the dry season of Australia's north and skinks make up the majority of the diet during the wet, other prey captured and consumed includes frogs.

The habitat is complex rocky outcrops that provide crevices and boulders and only in association with open woodlands; despite the presence of trees in the local environment the species is not known to be arboreal.

In the Yarrangguljna region of the Northern Territory the population's strongly preferred vegetation type is woodland dominated by Allosyncarpia ternata.

[10][1] The range of habitat includes arid woodland and monsoonal forest near their strongly preferred refuge within crevices and boulders at the outskirts of sandstone escarpments and outcrops.