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255 Featured Specimen
Nile monitor

Details

Nile monitor

Varanus niloticus

Size
1.2–2.2 m · 5–15 kg
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Sociality
Solitary
Lifespan
10-40 years

The Nile monitor is a large African lizard of freshwater edges and savanna. Diurnal and solitary, it is an agile predator along waterways.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
AfrotropicalAfrotropicalAfrotropicalAfrotropical

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses rivers, lakes, wetlands, and savanna water margins. Swim access, basking sites, and bankside holes or vegetation are important.

Appearance

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.

Behavior

It basks and forages by day, often escaping to water when disturbed. Solitary individuals range along banks and can climb and swim well.

Feeding

It is carnivorous, eating fish, frogs, birds, eggs, crustaceans, and small mammals. Strong claws and jaws open nests and hidden prey sites.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in soil or termite mounds. Hatchlings use waterside cover and feed on small animals.

Notes

Its status is listed as Least Concern. It adapts broadly, but introduced populations can place heavy predation pressure on native wildlife.