Asian Water Monitor
The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is one of the largest lizards in the world, reaching up to about 3 meters, and is widespread from Sri Lanka and India to Southeast Asia. It is at home in water, mangroves and cities.
The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is one of the largest lizards in the world, reaching up to about 3 meters, and is widespread from Sri Lanka and India to Southeast Asia. It is at home in water, mangroves and cities.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Asian Water Monitor in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Reptilia lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
Swimming Scavengers
The monitor swims with a side-to-side tail movement and dives for fish, crabs and other prey. It also scavenges carrion and eats eggs. It tolerates degraded habitat and can be seen in canals and parks in Asian cities, such as Bangkok.
Second Only to the Komodo
It is the second-largest lizard by weight after the Komodo dragon. Monitors can run fast and have strong claws for climbing and digging. See Komodo Dragon.
Trade
The species is hunted for its skin and meat and traded internationally, with trade regulated under CITES.
Asian Water Monitor at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Varanus salvator |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Varanidae |
| Field Guide group | Reptilia (Reptiles) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Second-heaviest lizard in the world, an expert swimmer with a flattened tail; flicks a forked tongue to track carrion. |
| IUCN Red List status | Least Concern (LC), assessed 2021 |
| Family | Varanidae |
| Maximum length | About 3 meters |
See Also
- Komodo Dragon — the largest lizard
- Nile Monitor — an African monitor