Malayan water monitor, Common water monitor, Two-banded monitor, Rice lizard, Ring lizard, Plain lizard, No-mark lizard, "water monitor", Kabaragoya (in Sri Lanka)
The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is a large varanid lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. It is one of the most common monitor lizards in Asia and is among the largest squamates in the world.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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ScavengerScavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While sc...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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starts withThe bodies of Asian water monitors are muscular, with long, powerful, laterally compressed tails. Water monitors are often defined by their dark brown or blackish coloration with yellow spots found on their underside - these yellow markings have a tendency to disappear gradually with age. This species is also denoted by the blackish band with yellow edges extending back from each eye. These monitors have very long necks and elongated snouts. They use their powerful jaws, serrated teeth, and sharp claws for both predation and defense.
Asian water monitors are widely distributed from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Chinese Guangxi and Hainan provinces, Malaysia, and Singapore to the Sunda islands Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, and Sulawesi. They inhabit a variety of natural habitats though predominantly these lizards reside in primary forests and mangrove swamps. They may also thrive in agricultural areas as well as cities with canal systems. Habitats that are considered to be most important to this species are mangrove vegetation, swamps, and wetlands.
Asian water monitors are semiaquatic; they are excellent swimmers, using the raised fin on their tails to steer through water. They are diurnal creatures. During the night or when just resting monitors hide in trees, under bushes, large roots, or cavities in between rocks. They also make their burrows which often lie close to the river or stream and are partially flooded. Asian water monitors defend themselves using their tails, claws, and jaws. When hunted by predators such as the King cobra they will climb trees using their powerful legs and claws. If this evasion is not enough to escape danger, they may jump from trees into streams for safety.
The possibility of venom in the genus Varanus is widely debated. Previously, venom was thought to be unique to Serpentes (snakes) and Heloderma (venomous lizards). The aftereffects of a Varanus bite were thought to be due to oral bacteria alone, but recent studies have shown venom glands are likely to be present in the mouths of several, if not all, of the species. The venom may be used as a defensive mechanism to fend off predators, to help digest food, to sustain oral hygiene, and possibly to help in capturing and killing prey.
Asian water monitors are carnivores and consume a wide range of prey. They eat fish, frogs, rodents, birds, crabs, and snakes. They have also been known to eat turtles, as well as young crocodiles and crocodile eggs. Water monitors will also often eat carrion. They have a keen sense of smell and can smell a carcass from far away.
Asian water monitors breed from April until October. Females lay their eggs a month after mating usually in rotting logs or tree stumps. A clutch usually contains about 10-40 eggs which are incubated during 6-7 months. The young are fully developed and independent at birth. Males become reproductively mature when they are about 1 m in size and females are reproductively mature at about 50 cm.
The Asian water monitor is one of the most exploited varanids; its skin is used for fashion accessories such as shoes, belts, and handbags which are shipped globally. Other uses include a perceived remedy for skin ailments, novelty food in Indonesia, as a perceived aphrodisiac, and as pets. Loss of habitat and hunting has exterminated water monitors from most of mainland India. In other areas, they survive despite being hunted.
According to IUCN, the Asian water monitor is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Asian water monitors play a very important role in their ecosystem as they are one of the only large land carnivores. They can also be helpful as they hunt crabs that could destroy the banks of rice fields, and also eat venomous snakes.
