Liberty Science Center

 

Asian Water Monitor

Back to Animal Index


Common Name: Asian Water Monitor

Scientific Name: Varanus salvator

Range: Widespread throughout most of southern Asia.

Habitat: This semi-aquatic lizard is usually seen on river banks and in swamps.

Size: Asian water monitors can reach nearly 10 feet in length.

Diet: Water monitors are carnivores that will eat anything they can catch and consume. Typical prey include insects, crabs, mollusks, snakes, eggs (of birds and crocodiles), fish, birds, rodents, small mouse deer and other monitor lizards. They will also scavenge rotting carcasses.

Interesting Facts:

Water monitors utilize “open pursuit” hunting rather than stalking techniques. They are very fast for their size, both on land and on water, due to powerful leg muscles. When hunting, they can remain submerged under water for up to 30 minutes.

The name “monitor” probably originated from the superstitious belief that these lizards warned of the presence of crocodiles in the water. Monitors will often eat crocodile eggs, thus are often seen near crocodile nesting sites.

Like snakes, water monitors posses a Jacobsen’s organ, a special organ located on the roof of their mouth that “smells” scents collected with their forked tongue.