Left: V. salvator, V. flavescens, V. tristis, V. prasinus Right: V. komodoensis, V. giganteus, V. albigularis, V. varius
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Squamata
Family:
Varanidae
Genus:
Varanus Merrem, 1820
Type species
Varanus varius
Shaw, 1790
Subgenera
Empagusia
Euprepiosaurus
Hapturosaurus
Odatria
Papusaurus
Philippinosaurus
Polydaedalus
Psammosaurus
Solomonsaurus
Soterosaurus
Varanus
Combined native range of all the monitor lizards
Skulls of various varanoids
Monitor lizards are lizards in the genus Varanus, the only extant genus in the family Varanidae. They are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania, and one species is also found in the Americas as an invasive species.[1] About 80 species are recognized.
Monitor lizards have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. The adult length of extant species ranges from 20 cm (7.9 in) in some species such as Varanus sparnus, to over 3 m (10 ft) in the case of the Komodo dragon, though the extinct megalania (Varanus priscus) may have reached lengths of more than 7 m (23 ft). Most monitor species are terrestrial, but many are also arboreal or semiaquatic. While most monitor lizards are carnivorous, eating smaller reptiles, fish, birds, insects, small mammals, and eggs, a few species also eat fruit and vegetation.[2]
^Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G.; Zweifel, R.G. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 157–159. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
Monitorlizards are lizards in the genus Varanus, the only extant genus in the family Varanidae. They are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania, and one...
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...
The earless monitorlizard (Lanthanotus borneensis) is a semiaquatic, brown lizard native to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. It is the only living...
dragon (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo monitor, is a member of the monitorlizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands...
Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard were the only venomous lizards. However, several species of monitorlizards, including the Komodo dragon, produce...
The Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis), also called the Indian monitor, is a monitorlizard distributed widely in the Indian Subcontinent, as well as...
and likkewaan mean monitorlizard in South African English, and can be used interchangeably). A feral population of Nile monitors (descended from escaped...
extant lizard native to Australia and fifth or fourth-biggest lizard in the world after Komodo dragon, Asian water monitor, crocodile monitor and competes...
The rock monitor (Varanus albigularis) is a species of monitorlizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa, where, on...
The crocodile monitor (Varanus salvadorii), also known as the Papuan monitor or Salvadori's monitor, is a species of monitorlizard endemic to New Guinea...
lace monitor (Varanus varius), also known as the tree goanna, is a member of the monitorlizard family native to eastern Australia. A large lizard, it...
genus Varanus. The lizard is a distinctive food of the Aeta and Ilongot indigenous people of the Philippines. The forest monitorlizard can grow to more...
the earless monitorlizard (Lanthanotus). Varanus includes the Komodo dragon (the largest living lizard), crocodile monitor, savannah monitor, the goannas...
The desert monitor (Varanus griseus) is a species of monitorlizard of the order Squamata found living throughout North Africa and Central and South Asia...
savannah monitor (Varanus exanthematicus) is a medium-sized species of monitorlizard native to Africa. The species is known as Bosc's monitor in Europe...
The mangrove monitor, mangrove goanna, or Western Pacific monitorlizard (Varanus indicus) is a member of the monitorlizard family with a large distribution...
yellow monitor (Varanus flavescens) or golden monitor is a monitorlizard native to South Asia. The yellow monitor is a medium-sized monitor, measuring...
The clouded monitor (Varanus nebulosus) is a species of monitorlizard, native to Burma, Thailand and Indochina to West Malaysia, Singapore, Java, Sumatra...
giant monitorlizard, part of the megafaunal assemblage that inhabited Australia during the Pleistocene. It is the largest terrestrial lizard known to...
known commonly as Gould's monitor, the racehorse goanna, and the sand monitor, is a species of large Australian monitorlizard in the family Varanidae....
The emerald tree monitor (Varanus prasinus) or green tree monitor, is a small to medium-sized arboreal monitorlizard. It is known for its unusual coloration...
The Panay monitor (Varanus mabitang) is an endangered monitorlizard native to Panay Island in the Philippines. Unlike most monitors, it is a specialized...
The black rough-necked monitor (Varanus rudicollis) is a species of monitorlizard found in Southeast Asian countries of Thailand, Burma, and Malaysia...
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