Scales & Tales with
Contributing Writer Sophie Mckee
Hello everyone, Sophie here with this month’s scaly creature, the Asian water monitor. Like the name says, they are native to a wide range of areas in Southeast Asia and can be found in countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These lizards are highly adaptable and can live in different habitats, from forests to coastal areas and wetlands. Monitors are also one of our more famous invasive animals here in Florida.
Monitors are the largest species of lizards in the world. The famous Komodo dragon is also a monitor and can grow more than 10 feet long. Asian water monitors usually average between 6 and 8 feet. They have long, muscular bodies, sharp claws, and powerful tails. Their scales are usually a mix of gray, green, or brown, helping them blend into their environments. Monitors also have a long, forked tongue that they use to smell and detect prey, just like snakes do. They also have very good eyesight and hearing. Their sharp senses help them hunt for food and avoid predators. These lizards are excellent swimmers and use their strong tails to move through water very quickly.
Asian water monitors are carnivores and they will eat almost anything, including insects, small mammals, birds, fish, and eggs. They often hunt by ambushing their prey or scavenging. They will also eat anything dead which makes getting bitten by one really dangerous from the bacteria in their mouth.
During the breeding season, female monitors lay eggs in sandy nests near water. The eggs are incubated by the warmth of the sun, and after about 6 to 9 months, the babies hatch. The young lizards are on their own right from birth, and they start hunting almost immediately.
Asian water monitors are highly intelligent and curious creatures. Although they are usually not aggressive toward humans, they can be dangerous if threatened. Their sharp claws and teeth are capable of inflicting serious harm, but they usually prefer to avoid people and will run or swim away if given the chance. They are really fast on the land and in the water.
While Asian water monitors are not currently listed as endangered, habitat destruction and hunting for their skin, meat, and tails can pose a threat to their populations. In some areas, they are also captured for the exotic pet trade. That’s how they got here to Florida.
There is a big population of both Asian and Nile monitors in Cape Coral and they have been here for a long time. They really like our canals and there is plenty of food for them. Last month I saw one sunning itself on a neighbor’s dock and got some cool video of it. It was at least 6 feet long! Unfortunately, they don’t belong out in the wild around here.
Any monitor lizard should only be owned by people who are very experienced with reptiles. It takes a lot of time and a lot of money to raise one. They eventually need a huge enclosure with a small swimming area since they get so big. They can live up to 20 years and will eat a lot of food in that time. But if you know what you're doing, a pet Asian water monitor can be really rewarding.
The one in the photo belongs to my friends at Twin B’s Reptiles in Cape Coral. His name is Ziggy and he’s just a baby but he’ll be about 3 feet long in a year. I’m excited to watch him grow.
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next month with another cold blooded creature.
Sophie Mckee
Oasis High School, Cape Coral
