Masters of Speed and Aggression: 10 Incredible Monitor Lizard Facts

Monitor lizards are large, scaly lizards with long, snake-like tongues. They can grow to be 10 feet long and have large claws and a powerful tail. The Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard, is a species of monitor lizard, as is the more common Asian water monitor. Continue reading to discover 10 incredible monitor lizard facts:

1. Choose your weapon: sharp teeth, large claws, or venom?

Monitor lizards are carnivores and are known to be aggressive attackers of their prey. A typical dinnertime ritual involves a monitor hiding and waiting. The monitor lizard attacks its prey using its large claws and sharp teeth, delivering a venomous bite. The anticoagulants in the venom cause the prey to bleed out, and the monitor lizard has dinner. Small animals are swallowed whole, while larger animals are ripped into smaller edible pieces.

2. Monitor lizards would win most eating contests!

On your mark, get set, go! Monitor lizards are very fast eaters, consuming large amounts of food quickly. Komodo dragons are known to consume large amounts of meat quickly, sometimes eating up to 80% of their body weight in one meal. They often feast on carrion (dead animals) and can consume nearly their entire body weight in one sitting!

3. “Don’t bite off more than you can chew,” is not a monitor lizard saying.

Monitor lizards swallow most of their prey whole. They have a unique feature in their throat that allows the jawbone to dislocate, making their throat larger. If you need to eat 5 pounds per minute, this would certainly be a helpful feature.

4. Could monitor lizards compete in a triathlon?

Monitor lizards are adept runners and swimmers, but are not equipped for biking. The Asian water monitor is one of the fastest monitor lizards in the water, using its large tail as a rudder.

5. Nile monitor lizards tag team to hunt.

The Nile monitor lizards team up to hunt. If they find a crocodile nest of eggs, with a very protective mother crocodile, one Nile monitor will distract the mother, drawing her away from the nest, while the other Nile monitor steals the eggs. Now that is teamwork!

6. Komodo dragons don’t always get along; sometimes they eat one another.

Young Komodo dragons are sometimes eaten by larger, aggressive adult Komodo dragons. The young Komodo dragons frequently hide in trees to keep out of harm’s way, but occasionally an adult will catch and eat one.

7. A different “Meg”, not a Megalodon but a Megalania.

The 23-foot-long Megalania was an early monitor lizard that lived in Australia. This giant beast is extinct, but lived during the Pleistocene era. Fossils of these lizards have been found, but none have been fully intact. Scientists try their best to piece together the history of these early lizards.

9. A water monitor lizard was videotaped INSIDE a 7-Eleven!

In Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, a 6-foot long water monitor lizard was videotaped climbing the shelves inside a 7-Eleven convenience store. The reporter said it climbed up to a top shelf and stayed there for over an hour! In many areas of Thailand, it is common to see water monitors; however, they rarely come into contact with humans.

The most common monitor lizard to be kept as a pet is the Ackie monitor, which is one of the smaller lizard breeds. They grow to be around 16-18 inches long and weigh around 5-12 pounds. Monitor lizards need a large enclosure that replicates their natural surroundings. Stock your fridge with mealworms, crickets, and roaches to feed your lizard, and make sure you can commit to taking care of them for their lifespan of 15-20 years.

11. The oldest Komodo dragon in captivity was 30 years old.

At the Calgary Zoo in Canada, the Komodo dragon, Loka, died when she was 30 years old. The lifespan of Komodo dragons in the wild is 20-30 years, with the average span is 8-30 years, depending on factors like size, captivity status, and diet.