Asian Water Monitor - Varanus salvator - Reptile - Lizard - Reptiles - Lizards
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Asian Water Monitor - Varanus salvator - Reptile - Lizard - Reptiles - Lizards
The water monitor (Varanus salvator) is a large lizard native to Southern Asia. Water monitors are one of the most common monitor lizards found throughout Asia, and range from Sri Lanka, India, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula and various islands of Indonesia, living in areas close to water.
The water monitor is a large species of monitor lizard. Breeding maturity is attained for males when they are a relatively modest 40 cm (16 in) and weigh 1 kg (2.2 lb) and for females at 50 cm (20 in). However, they grow much larger throughout life, with males being larger than females. Most adult specimens will not exceed 1.5--2 m (4.9--6.6 ft) in length. However, the species can attain a maximum size of 3 m (9.8 ft). The largest specimen on record was an animal measuring 321 cm from Ceylon (Sri Lanka). A common mature weight of Varanus salvator can be 19.5 kg (43 lb). The maximum weight of the species is over 50 kg (110 lb). In exceptional cases, the species has been reported to attain 75 to 90 kg (170 to 200 lb), though most such reports are unverified and may be unreliable. They are the world's second heaviest lizard, after the Komodo dragon. Their body is muscular with a long, powerful, laterally compressed tail.
The generic name Varanus is derived from the Arabic waral (ورل), which translates as "monitor" in English. The specific name is the Latin word for "Saviour" denoting a possible religious connotation. The Water monitor is occasionally confused with the Crocodile monitor (V. salvadorii) because of their similar scientific names.
In Indonesian and Malay, the water monitor is called 'biawak'.
Asian water monitor, Varanus salvator salvator the nominate subspecies is now restricted to Sri Lanka where it is known as the Kabaragoya in Sinhala, and Udumbu in Tamil.
Andaman Islands water monitor, Varanus salvator andamanensis: Andaman Islands; Type locality: Port Blair, Andaman Islands.
Two-striped water monitor, Varanus salvator bivittatus: Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Ombai (Alor), Wetar and some neighbouring islands within the Sunda arch, Indonesia; Type locality: Java (designated by Mertens 1959).
Water monitors can be defensive, using their tail, claws, and jaws when fighting. They are excellent swimmers, using the raised fin located on their tails to steer through water. Water monitors are carnivores, and have a wide range of foods. They are known to eat fish, frogs, rodents, birds, crabs, and snakes. They have also been known to eat turtles, as well as young crocodiles and crocodile eggs. Like the Komodo Dragon, they will often eat carrion. Water monitors have been observed eating catfish in a fashion similar to a mammalian carnivore, tearing off chunks of meat with its sharp teeth while holding it with its forelegs and then separating different parts of the fish for sequential consumption