Home > Lizards > Savannah Monitor

Savannah Monitor

Savannah monitor lizards are medium-sized, heavy-bodied monitor lizards found in Africa. They are known to be very territorial and aggressively defend their territory. They are diurnal and terrestrial but, are also good climbers.

Scientific Classification
Quick Information

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Subphylum	Vertebrata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Suborder	Lacertilia
Family	Varanidae
Genus	Varanus
Subgenus	Varanus (Polydaedalus)
Scientific Name	Varanus exanthematicus

Other Names	Bosc’s Monitor
Length	Around 60 to 76 cm; largest specimen is 155 cm
Color	Gray to light yellow with uniform circular patterned dark edged yellow spots across the sides and back; undersides of the limbs and belly are gray or yellowish-gray to black; alternating yellowish and brown bands on the tail
Distribution	Sub-Saharan Africa
Habitat	Savannahs, grasslands
Diet	Arthropods like beetles, millipedes, centipedes, scorpions; snails, birds, small mammals, toads, reptiles, eggs, carrion, molluscs
Hibernation Fact	May undergo short hibernation if the weather is very cold
Predators	Snakes, birds
Breeding Season	Wet season
Mode of Reproduction	Oviparous (egg laying)
Clutch Size	20 to 50 eggs
Incubation Period	5 to 6 months
Average Lifespan	In Wild: Around 8 – 10 years In Captivity: Around 15 – 20 years
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern