# Asian Water Monitor (*Varanus salvator*) > 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. - **Category:** Reptile - **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern - **Range:** Wetlands, rivers, mangroves, and coasts across South and Southeast Asia. - **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/water-monitor/ - **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16 ## Scientific classification - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Reptilia - **Order:** Squamata - **Family:** Varanidae - **Genus:** Varanus ## Facts at a glance | Attribute | Value | | --- | --- | | Scientific name | Varanus salvator | | Diet | Carnivore (also scavenges) | | Habitat | Wetlands, rivers, mangroves, and coasts | | Lifespan | 10–20 years | | Length | Up to 3 m (10 ft) | | Weight | Up to 25 kg (55 lb) | | Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) | ## 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. ## At home in the water As its name suggests, this monitor is closely tied to water and is rarely found far from it. Its flattened, oar-like tail drives it through rivers, swamps, and coastal shallows, and it can stay submerged for many minutes while hunting or hiding. On land it walks with a steady, side-to-side gait and can put on a surprising burst of speed of around 30 km/h when pressed. It readily crosses stretches of sea between islands, which is one reason it is so widespread. ## Diet and scavenging Water monitors are opportunistic carnivores that eat an enormous range of prey. Fish, frogs, crabs, birds, rodents, snakes, turtles, and eggs are all on the menu, and they will raid nests and dig up buried food. They are also important scavengers, feeding readily on carrion and human refuse, which draws them into towns and villages. A keen sense of smell, aided by a forked tongue, helps them track food from a distance. ## Living alongside people Few large predators tolerate human company as well as the water monitor. It thrives in canals, rice paddies, fishing ports, and even city parks across Southeast Asia, where scraps and rodents are plentiful. Generally shy, it prefers to slip into the water or flee rather than confront a person. This adaptability has allowed it to remain common in landscapes where many other big reptiles have vanished. ## Reproduction Females lay clutches of up to around 40 eggs, often depositing them inside termite mounds or in holes dug into riverbanks and rotting logs. The termite mound provides steady warmth and humidity, and the insects reseal the chamber around the eggs. Incubation takes several months, after which the hatchlings emerge fully independent and immediately take to the water. Young monitors are brightly patterned and spend much of their early life in trees, out of reach of ground predators. ## Conservation status The Asian water monitor is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains widespread and adaptable across its range. Even so, it is hunted in large numbers for its skin, which supplies the leather trade, and for meat and the pet market. Local populations can be depleted where hunting is intense, but its tolerance of disturbed and urban habitats has kept the species as a whole secure. Wetland protection helps sustain the healthiest populations. ## Frequently asked questions ### How big do Asian water monitors get? Asian water monitors can reach up to 3 m (10 ft) in total length and weigh as much as 25 kg (55 lb). Much of that length is tail. This makes them one of the largest lizard species in the world, second only to the Komodo dragon by weight. ### Can water monitors swim? Yes, they are superb swimmers. A flattened, paddle-like tail powers them through rivers, swamps, and coastal water, and they can stay submerged for several minutes. They even swim between islands across open sea, which has helped them spread across Southeast Asia. ### What do water monitors eat? Water monitors are opportunistic carnivores. They eat fish, frogs, crabs, birds, rodents, snakes, turtles, and eggs, and they scavenge carrion and human refuse. A strong sense of smell helps them find both live prey and buried or hidden food. ### Are water monitors dangerous to humans? They are large and powerful but generally shy, and they usually flee into water rather than attack. Bites are rare and normally happen only when the animal is cornered or handled, though a big monitor can inflict a painful wound with its teeth and claws. ### Where do Asian water monitors live? They live across South and Southeast Asia in wetlands, rivers, mangroves, and coastal areas. They are highly adaptable and also thrive in human landscapes such as canals, rice paddies, fishing ports, and city parks. ### How long do water monitors live? Asian water monitors typically live between 10 and 20 years. Their long lifespan and adaptable, opportunistic lifestyle help them persist even in areas heavily altered by people. ## Sources - [IUCN Red List — Varanus salvator.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Varanus%20salvator&searchType=species) - [Animal Diversity Web — Varanus salvator. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Varanus_salvator/) - [Wikipedia — Asian Water Monitor.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_water_monitor) --- Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/water-monitor/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.