The Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) is a large varanid lizard native to South and Southeast Asia.
It is widely considered to be the second-largest lizard species, after the Komodo dragon. It is distributed
from eastern and northeastern India and Bangladesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, through southern
China and Hainan Island in the east to mainland Southeast Asia and the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Lombok,
the Riau Archipelago, Sulawesi. It is one of the most widespread monitor lizards.
The family Varanidae contains nearly 80 species
of monitor lizards, all of which belong to the genus Varanus. There is a significant amount of taxonomic uncertainty within this
species complex. Morphological analyses have begun to unravel this taxonomic uncertainty but molecular studies are needed to test and
confirm the validity of certain groupings within this genus. Research initiatives such as these are very important to assess changes in
conservation assessments.
The handful of subspecies, and their location in SouthEast Asia, are named below:
The Asian water monitor has a natural affinity towards water, inhabiting the surroundings of lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps and various riparian habitats, including sewers, city parks, and urban waterways. It is an excellent swimmer and hunts fish, frogs, invertebrates, water birds, and other types of aquatic and amphibious prey. Due to its apparently large, stable population, it is currently listed as Least Concern on to the IUCN Red List.