Water Monitor

Description:

capable of growing to over 3m (10')

Habitat:

tropical forest, near water

Notes:

I camped for 3 nights at Erawan national park. The path to the food vendors always crossed a river on a footbridge. It wasn't very deep in the park and I wasn't always on the lookout for animals every time I went to eat so I was very surprised to be surprised by this monitor sunning itself on the bridge. Once I noticed him, he was already making his way under the bridge to the muddy bank below. I was only able to get this one clear photo before he hid under some dense shrubs.