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Water (or Nile) Monitor (Varanus
niloticus), Family Varanidae |
Credit & Copyright: Dr. Bruce G.
Marcot
Explanation: Behold the behemoth of Africa! This is southern Africa's largest lizard, a water monitor. Water
monitors belong the same family as goannas
in Australia and the infamous Komodo
dragon, the world's largest
lizard, of Indonesia.
They swim well, and often take to water if disturbed. I recall one incident when I was on foot exploring the densely overgrown banks of the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls National Park of northwestern Zimbabwe, when I accidentally spooked a water monitor laying hidden in the vegetation. In an instant, the lizard, just a few feet from me, suddenly arched its back, reared up on its hind legs and tail, and spun around and plunged back into the river. I continued my exploration after my heart returned to my chest! Water monitors are usually shy creatures, but they will bite hard if cornered or captured. Adults eat crabs and other aquatic creatures, and the young eat mostly insects and small frogs. They lay eggs within active termite nests which likely provide protection from other predators and temperature changes.
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