Asian Water Monitor

## Description

The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator ) is a large varanid lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. It is one of the most common monitor lizards in Asia, ranging from coastal northeast India, Sri Lanka, mainland Southeast Asia to Indonesian islands where it lives close to water. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It was described by Laurenti in 1768 and is among the largest squamates in the world.

The Asian water monitor is also called Malayan water monitor, common water monitor, two-banded monitor, rice lizard, ring lizard, plain lizard, no-mark lizard and water monitor.

## Appearance

The Asian water monitor is a large lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. It is one of the most common monitor lizards in Asia and is among the largest reptiles in the world. The bodies of Asian water monitors are muscular, with long, powerful, laterally compressed tails. Water monitors are often defined by their dark brown or blackish coloration with yellow spots found on their underside - these yellow markings have a tendency to disappear gradually with age. This species is also denoted by the blackish band with yellow edges extending back from each eye. These monitors have very long necks and an elongated snout. They use their powerful jaws, serrated teeth and sharp claws for both predation and defense.

## Distribution

Asian water monitors are widely distributed from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, the Chinese Guangxi and Hainan provinces, Malaysia, Singapore to the Sunda islands Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, and Sulawesi. They inhabit a variety of natural habitats though predominantly these lizards reside in primary forests and mangrove swamps. They may also thrive in agricultural areas as well as cities with canal systems. Habitats that are considered to be most important to this species are mangrove vegetation, swamps, and wetlands.

## Behavior

Asian water monitors are semiaquatic; they are excellent swimmers, using the raised fin on their tails to steer through water. They are diurnal creatures. During the night or when just resting monitors hide in trees, under bushes, large roots, or cavities in between rocks. They also make their burrows which often lie close to the river or stream and are partially flooded. Asian water monitors defend themselves using their tails, claws, and jaws. When hunted by predators such as the King cobra they will climb trees using their powerful legs and claws. If this evasion is not enough to escape danger, they may jump from trees into streams for safety.

## Diet

Asian water monitors are carnivores, and consume a wide range of prey. They eat fish, frogs, rodents, birds, crabs, and snakes. They have also been known to eat turtles, as well as young crocodiles and crocodile eggs. Water monitors will also often eat carrion. They have a keen sense of smell and can smell a carcass from far away.

## Reproduction

Asian water monitors breed from April and until October. Females lay their eggs a month after mating usually in rotting logs or tree stumps. A clutch usually contains about 10-40 eggs which are incubated during 6-7 months. The young are fully-developed and independent at birth. Males become reproductively mature when they are about 1 m in size and females are reproductively matured at about 50 cm.

## Population

### Population threats

The Asian water monitor is one of the most exploited varanids; its skin is used for fashion accessories such as shoes, belts, and handbags which are shipped globally. Other uses include a perceived remedy for skin ailments, novelty food in Indonesia, as a perceived aphrodisiac, and as pets. Loss of habitat and hunting has exterminated water monitors from most of mainland India. In other areas, they survive despite being hunted.

### Population number

According to IUCN, the Asian water monitor is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

### Ecological niche

Asian water monitors play a very important role in their ecosystem as they are one of the only large land carnivores. They can also be helpful as they hunt crabs that could destroy the banks of rice fields, and also eat venomous snakes.