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Asian Water Monitor — printable fact sheet
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Animal Fact Sheet
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Asian Water Monitor
Varanus salvator
The Asian water monitor is the second-heaviest lizard alive, behind only the Komodo dragon, and it is one of the very few big reptiles that has done well out of human cities. It swims powerfully with a laterally flattened tail, can stay submerged for half an hour, climbs, runs, …
Did you know?
- Despite their intimidating size, Asian Water Monitors are occasionally kept as exotic pets in some countries.
- In Sri Lanka the species is traditionally protected because it eats crabs that undermine paddy-field bunds. It is one of the few lizards that has learned to exploit human refuse at scale, and individuals in Bangkok have been recorded weighing over 20 kg. Water monitors are strong enough swimmers to colonise offshore islands, and have been recorded crossing kilometres of open sea.
What I learned
Draw the asian water monitor
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