It was also considered as one of the subspecies of the Nile monitor until 1997. This monitor is large and they can grow close to 2 meters in length. Ornate monitors live in West and Middle Africa. However, the Nile monitors and West African Nile monitors show similar behavior and lifestyle. Previously ornate monitors were included in the Nile monitor species. Recently these monitors have been introduced to South Florida, United States as an invasive species. West African Nile monitors are native to West African forests and nearby areas of the savannah region. West African Nile monitor ( Varnus stellatus) They can climb trees and quickly run on land. These monitors are well-adapted for an aquatic lifestyle. It is also called the African small-grain lizard and iguana. Nile monitors, a large member of the monitor lizard’s family, live in Sub-Saharan Africa and along the Nile. You can read about their behavior and lifestyle below. These monitor lizards show some interesting behaviors. Let’s know more about the monitor lizard species that are native to Africa. They cover the eggs with soil or hide the eggs in the hollow of tree stumps. They remain active throughout the day in their territory and prey on mammals and other small reptiles. The group of monitor lizards maintains a vast territory. However, some species of monitor lizards are found in groups of 25 monitors. Three species living in the Philippines, which live in trees, mainly eat fruits. Some of the largest species of Monitor lizards, like the Komodo dragon prey on deers. When they become adults, they start to eat vertebrates. The young monitor lizards eat invertebrates. It adapts itself according to the natural resources available in the habitat. The diet of a monitor lizard depends on where it lives. Monitor lizards also eat eggs, fruits, and vegetation. They feed on a variety of insects, crustaceans, arachnids, mollusks, fish, amphibians, other small reptiles, birds, and mammals. Some species of Monitor lizards are carnivores. So, they are found in lands, trees, and near the wetlands. The West African Nile monitor lizard has started to live in South Florida and Singapore as an invasive species.Īs it is mentioned earlier, monitor lizards are terrestrial, arboreal, and semiaquatic. The islands of the Indian Ocean and the South China Seas.Southeast Asia: Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines.Monitor lizards cover a vast area of the following regions: Let’s look at the range of monitor lizards in detail. Recently, monitor lizards have started to live in the Americas too. Monitor lizards live mainly in the selected regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. That’s why they are called oviparous animals. Monitor lizards like other reptiles lay eggs. The quality of the venom depends on the diverse ecological factors of their habitats. Monitor lizards’ venom is diverse and complex. The monitor lizards are carnivorous animals.Īnatomical and molecular studies reveal that the monitor lizards and possibly all lizards are venomous partially. However, some monitor lizard species are semiaquatic and arboreals. Monitor lizards are generally terrestrial animals. The Komodo monitor lizard or simply Komodo dragon is an apex predator over 3 meters in height. An adult monitor lizard’s height ranges from 20 centimeters to over 3 meters. Monitor lizards, one of the iconic reptiles living on the planet, have comparably long necks, strong tails, and claws.

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