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Varanus bengalensis
The Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis) or common Indian monitor, is a monitor lizard found widely distributed over South Asia. This large lizard is mainly terrestrial, and grows to about 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. Although large monitors have few predators apart from humans who hunt them for meat, younger individuals are hunted by many predators. They are usually shy and avoid humans. They have keen eyesight and can detect human movement nearly 250 m away.
This one ran away as soon as I got out of the car, managed to click some neat ones while it was running. Information above is from wikipedia.
Spotted on Sep 10, 2011
Submitted on Sep 13, 2011
10 Comments
Uploaded the first pic from a recent spotting at the Kanha National Park where this animal was basking in the sun on a log.
Gracias Courtney and Hashen.
me encantan los varanos y los monitores
Very cool Satyen!
Thanks.
Cool monitor!
Thanks Yasser.
Nice one!
Thanks Daniele.
This is one fine felllow! Great catch.