The rock monitor (Varanus albigularis ) is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Central, East, and southern Africa. It is the second-longest lizard found on the continent, and the heaviest-bodied; locally, it is called leguaan or likkewaan.
The Rock monitor is a large heavy-bodied lizard native to Africa. Its head and neck are the same length and are distinct from each other. The bulbous, convex snout gives an angular, box-like appearance. The forked tongue is pink or bluish, and the body scales are usually a mottled gray-brown with yellowish or white markings.
Rock monitors are found in Central Africa, Southern Africa, the African Great Lakes, and the Horn of Africa. They live in a variety of dry habitats, including steppes, prairies, and savannahs, but are absent from desert interiors, rainforests, and thick scrub forests.
Rock monitors lead a solitary life and live in tunnels which they dig themselves or in burrows abandoned by other animals. They may also take shelter in tree holes or rock crevices. Rock monitors feed by day on a broad variety of prey and are not averse to occasionally scavenge the corpses of vertebrates, even those as large as vervet monkeys; these are sometimes torn to pieces by "death rolling" prior to consumption.
Rock monitors are carnivores and scavengers. They eat primarily invertebrates, especially millipedes, beetles, mollusks, and orthopterans. Tortoises also make up a significant part of their diet and are swallowed whole due to the hard shell.
Rock monitors breed between October and November and females lay 8-50 eggs in a hole they dig in moist soil or in a hollow tree.
These large lizards suffer from habitat destruction and from hunting for their skin, meat and are frequently used in traditional medicines by local people.
Presently, the Rock monitor is not included in the IUCN Red List and its conservation status has not been evaluated.