Details
Varanus niloticus
The Nile monitor is a large African lizard of freshwater edges and savanna. Diurnal and solitary, it is an agile predator along waterways.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses rivers, lakes, wetlands, and savanna water margins. Swim access, basking sites, and bankside holes or vegetation are important.
Length is about 120-220 cm and weight about 5-15 kg. A long neck and tail, strong limbs, and yellow spots or bands on dark skin are typical.
It basks and forages by day, often escaping to water when disturbed. Solitary individuals range along banks and can climb and swim well.
It is carnivorous, eating fish, frogs, birds, eggs, crustaceans, and small mammals. Strong claws and jaws open nests and hidden prey sites.
Females lay eggs in soil or termite mounds. Hatchlings use waterside cover and feed on small animals.
Its status is listed as Least Concern. It adapts broadly, but introduced populations can place heavy predation pressure on native wildlife.
