# How Long Do Asian Water Monitors Live?

> Asian Water Monitor lifespan is typically 10–20 years. What shortens or extends life, life stages, and status (Least Concern).

- **Species:** Asian Water Monitor (*Varanus salvator*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore (also scavenges)
- **Habitat:** Wetlands, rivers, mangroves, and coasts
- **Lifespan:** 10–20 years
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/water-monitor/how-long-do-water-monitor-live/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/water-monitor/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is one of the largest lizards in the world, reaching up to 3 m (10 ft) long and around 25 kg (55 lb). It lives across South and Southeast Asia in wetlands, rivers, mangroves, and coastal areas, where it walks powerfully on land and swims with ease using its muscular tail. A carnivore and scavenger, it eats almost anything it can catch and can live 10 to 20 years.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a prognosis for one named animal. This page is a species lifespan range.

## Size and build

The water monitor is second only to the Komodo dragon among the world's heaviest lizards. Large adults stretch up to 3 m (10 ft) from snout to tail tip and weigh as much as 25 kg (55 lb), with the tail alone making up more than half the total length. The body is long and muscular, covered in dark scales flecked with yellow spots and bands. Strong limbs and sharp, curved claws make it an excellent climber and digger as well as a swimmer.

## Help protect the Asian Water Monitor

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/water-monitor/how-long-do-water-monitor-live/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.