Reptiles · Squamata · Varanidae

Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

Not Evaluated

It has not yet been assessed against the IUCN criteria. See full glossary

It is one of the most widely distributed lizards in the world and very tolerant of people, commonly seen in canals and city parks across South East Asia.

Weight

9 kg – 45 kg

Size

25 cm – 3 m

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

RainforestFreshwaterCarnivore Diurnal Solitary Reptile Rainforest Freshwater

20countries 72parks 44dive sites6same family

Fun facts

It is the second heaviest lizard in the world after the Komodo dragon.
It is very tolerant of people, and common in canals and city parks.
Its skin is widely traded for the fashion industry.
comportamientoIt swims and dives well, able to stay under for several minutes, and eats a very varied diet including carrion, eggs and small vertebrates.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Mangroves, wetlands, rivers and canals of coastal South and South East Asia, towns included
Birth weight: 0.1 - 0.2 kg; 25-30 cm long at hatching
Size at birth: 25 - 30 cm long at hatching
Sexual maturity: 2 years (the male mature at ~1 m long, the female at ~0.5 m)
Gestation / incubation: 5-6 months (150-180 days)
Litter / clutch size: 10 to 40 eggs per clutch
Lifespan in captivity: Up to 11-25 years documented in captivity

Sources consulted: A-Z Animals; Animal-pedia.org; ReptileGuide; SeaWorld/Busch Gardens; ReptileDirect; Animalia.bio; The Animal Facts; PMC (skeletochronology study)