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Asian water monitor

Varanus salvator

Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator)Common

Photo: Rob and Stephanie Levy from Townsville, Australia · CC BY 2.0

Reptilecarnivore

The common water monitor is a big lizard that thrives across much of southern Asia, from India to Indonesia. It's the world's second-largest lizard species, outmatched only by the Komodo dragon. These adaptable reptiles are equally at home in forests, wetlands, and even near human settlements.

  • Their range stretches from eastern India across Southeast Asia to Indonesian islands.
  • They inhabit diverse environments from swamps to farmlands.
  • Only Komodo dragons grow larger among living lizard species.
WetlandRainforestFarmAsia
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At a glance

Classification
Reptile
Scientific name
Varanus salvator
Habitat
Wetland, Rainforest, Farm
Regions in this directory
Asia
Diet
carnivore
Relative size
giant
IUCN Red List
Least Concern (LC)
Look up the latest IUCN assessment

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