Varanus salvator (Laurenti, 1768)

Cook-Price, Dawn R., Makchai, Sunchai, Naithani, Archana, Pawangkhanant, Parinya & Suwanwaree, Pongthep, 2025, Lizard survey of Ko Pha-gnan in the Surat Thani Province, Thailand, Biodiversity Data Journal 13, pp. e 154712-e 154712 : e154712-

Varanus salvator (Laurenti, 1768)

Water monitor lizard

Distribution

This species was detected throughout the island. Of the 27 individuals, 12 were detected in six of the eight human settlement transects. Nine of the individuals were detected in five of the thirteen human disturbed forest transects and six individuals were detected in two of the eleven National Park forest transects.

Notes

This diurnal, semi-aquatic medium- to large-sized lizard (Fig. 6 A) is characterised by its dark colouration with yellow to cream markings that fade as the species ages. Their diet consists of a wide variety of prey such as fish, birds, eggs, frogs, snakes, lizards, small mammals and carrion. This species is well adapted to human disturbance and is often found in and around human settlement areas ( Koch et al. 2007, Auliya and Koch 2020).

Figures

Figure 6. Varanidae lizards. A Varanus salvator; B Varanus nebulosus.