Some of the most popular pet species include savannah, Ackies, Nile, black-throated, black tree, emerald tree, timor, and crocodile monitors, just to name a few.Īll species need a light source and a heat source, and you should choose these at the discretion of your breeder or veterinarian. Many different monitor lizard species make good pets, and each has slightly different needs. They are wild animals, and you will need to provide them with specialized care, diet, and veterinary needs. However, not all monitor lizard species are good pets, so it is important to do your research before choosing a pet. Yes, there are quite a few different species of monitor lizards that make good pets. Though some species are kept as pets, humans have not domesticated monitor lizards in any way. For some species, populations in certain areas are more threatened than those in other regions. Komodo dragons are the exception to this, and they can be quite dangerous if provoked.įor the most part, habitat destruction is the biggest threat to these reptiles as a whole.
For the most part, monitor lizards are harmless to people, and many people actually keep them as pets. Some monitor lizards rarely come across humans, others live in areas with large human populations. They feed on birds, eggs, worms, spiders, insects, crabs, small reptiles, small mammals, large mammals, and more. Monitor lizards eat everything from the smallest insects to the largest buffalo and deer. Of the several omnivorous species, their primary non-meat selections are fruits.īasically, the larger the lizard is, the larger the prey they can catch. A few species are omnivorous, and eat both meat and plants. Most monitor lizards are carnivores, and eat only meat. Like with any other category, diet varies based on species. Humans have also introduced a number of monitor lizard species to other areas, including the United States (including, to no surprise, Florida.) Diet of the Monitor Lizard They inhabit Africa, Asia, Australia, and most of the surrounding islands between these regions. As a whole, the various species live across a huge range. Some monitor lizards are widespread and common, while others have much smaller ranges, and are quite rare. The exact range of these creatures depends on the species at hand. Monitor lizards live in deserts, desert edges, riverbanks, mangrove swamps, lowland forests, wetlands, and more. Others live in tropical regions with high humidity and lots of rainfall. Some species live in more arid or semi-arid regions, with very little rainfall.
These reptiles live in a number of different habitats, and each species has its own preferences. There are many different species of monitor lizards, and thus, there are numerous habitats and ecosystems where they thrive. Male monitor lizards can reproduce when they are a little over a foot long, and females when they are a little over a foot and a half. Though this isn’t remarkable in itself, it is much more interesting when you begin to discuss when these reptiles reach sexual maturity. Asian Water Monitor – This species of monitor lizard easily reaches seven feet in length.The largest Komodo dragons exceed ten feet in length! Though a number of crocodilian species dwarf them in size, when it comes to monitor lizards, Komodo dragons are king. Komodo Dragon – You can’t make a list of monitor lizard fun facts without mentioning the largest lizard in the world.Perentie – Perenties are the largest species of lizard in Australia, and grow up to eight feet long! Aboriginal Australians relied heavily upon this species for food, and because of this they are present in Aboriginal folklore.These bold reptiles make a habit of robbing Nile crocodile nests, eating eggs and stealing hatchlings. The Nile monitor and the Nile crocodile are something of rivals. Nile Monitor – Another large reptile shares a name, and a range, with this species.
We have highlighted interesting tidbits about different species below. There are many different species of monitor lizards, which equates to many different behaviors and traits. Interesting Facts About the Monitor Lizard Though most species, particularly the larger species, live on the ground, young monitor lizards and smaller species live fully or partially in trees. Though some species, like the Timor tree monitor, are smaller, many species grow several feet long on average.Īll monitor lizards have long muscular tails and sharp claws. Most species of monitor lizard are quite large, especially compared to other lizards.
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