Monitor Lizard

Monitor lizards are active, long-tailed lizards with forked tongues and strong limbs. They occur across parts of Africa, Asia and Australia, using habitats from dry country to wetlands. Most feed largely on animal food, including insects, eggs, fish and other vertebrates. A keen chemical sense helps them search for food. Depending on the species, monitors climb, dig or swim readily, and some use several of these methods. The group includes small species as well as the much larger Komodo dragon.