The Lizard was found in a newly built house at Ballari’s Kuvempu Nagar. At first, the owner of the house saw the tail of the lizard behind the refrigerator and thought that is a big snake. When checked, it was found out to be a Monitor lizard
Monitor lizards have long necks, powerful tails and claws. An adult Monitor lizard ranges from 20 cm (7.9 in) in some species, to over 3 m (10 ft) in the cases. While most monitor lizards are carnivorous, eating eggs, smaller reptiles, fish, birds, insects, and small mammals, some also eat fruit and vegetation, depending on where they live.
Ashok says
Body of monitor lizard is covered with scales in tan, green, grey or brown color.
Monitor lizard monitors its surroundings by standing on its hind legs to ensure detection of potential predators in time, hence the name “monitor lizard”.
Unlike other lizards, monitor lizard cannot regenerate its tail in the case of loss.
They have poisonous saliva which facilitates killing of the prey and provides protection against the predators.
They have excellent eyesight and sense of smell. Just like the snake, they collect scent molecules from the air using their forked tongue.
This large lizard is mainly terrestrial, and its length can range from about 61 to 175 cm from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail
Young monitors may be more arboreal, but adults mainly hunt on the ground, preying mainly on arthropods, but also taking small terrestrial vertebrates, ground birds, eggs and fish.
