The Types of Monitors & Reptiles

Monitors are medium to large carnivorous lizards found mainly in southern Asia and Australia and, like all other lizards, they are reptiles. They are active lizards that typically lash out their tails when approached and will feed on any prey they are able to capture. The majority of monitor species are terrestrial, but a number hunt in the branches of trees, and water monitors capture fish in lakes and rivers. Most of the over 30 species of monitors are listed as threatened by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

  1. The Sand Monitor

    • The sand monitor, that is also termed Gould's monitor, is the most common of the Australian monitors. This monitor is common except for the extreme south and southeast of Australia. Sand monitors are almost completely terrestrial and only climb in order to escape predators. These lizards possess long legs and large feet, which are used for digging. Sand monitors in the north of Australia predate on crocodile eggs, to the extent that in excess of 90 percent of these eggs are destroyed. The sand monitor's eggs in turn, are eaten by the toxic cane toad.

    Komodo Dragon

    • Komodo dragons are the heaviest living lizards. These monitors reach up to 10 feet in length and weigh more than 300 pounds. These dragons are the dominant predators on the Indonesian islands of Gili Motang, Gili Dasami, Komodo, Flores and Rinca, where they prey on pigs, deer and water buffaloes. Komodo dragons will accept carrion and will eat humans. The saliva of these large monitors contains more than 50 strains of bacteria, which causes blood poisoning within a day. Komodo dragons rely on camouflage during hunting. These huge lizards can eat up to 80 percent of their body weight at a time. Human encroachment and poaching have placed this species in the endangered category.

    Nile Monitor

    • The Nile monitor which is found across much of Africa, except the northwest, grows to a length of six feet. The color of this lizard is dark brown with yellow bands and spot on its body. The diurnal Nile monitor spends much of its time in or near water. This monitor is capable of remaining under water for at least an hour.

    Savannah Monitor

    • The savannah monitor inhabits the grasslands and savannahs of central Africa. These predatory reptiles are most active during the cooler hours, when they forage for rodents, birds and their eggs, insects and other lizards. The savannah monitor is similar to both the black and the white-throated monitors, and the range of all three species overlaps in places.