A monitor lizard’s bite can cause severe pain. The species is venomous. Its bite can kill prey, but is not deadly to humans. However, it can be deadly to small pets.
Monitor lizards have high metabolic rates, the highest of all reptiles. Their tongues are forked. This allows them to sense molecules in the environment like smelling in stereo. Many monitor lizard species are venomous, including the Komodo dragon. However, most monitor lizard venom is not dangerous to humans. It is used to subdue prey.
The monitor lizards bite and inject venom, paralyzing prey to death. The venom prevents blood clotting, causing blood pressure to drop. Recent work suggests monitor lizards have sophisticated venom glands, similar to other venomous lizards and snakes.
The venom has a mild effect on humans. It is used to kill small animals. About 80 monitor lizard species are recognized. They live in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and one invasive species lives in the Americas.
Monitor lizards are oviparous, laying eggs. In the wild, they typically avoid humans. If encountered, caution should be exercised and their space respected. It is rare for them to be aggressive towards humans.
Male monitor lizards in good condition have bigger heads than females. Mature monitor lizards can grow to around 5 feet long. Savannah monitors have mild temperaments compared to other monitor species. Still, any animal with teeth can bite and deliver pain.
Is the Komodo dragon a monitor lizard?
The Komodo dragon is a monitor lizard. It is the largest extant species of lizard, growing to 3 m (9.8 ft) and weighing up to 70 kg (150 lb). As apex predators, Komodo dragons dominate the ecosystems where they live. The Komodo dragon also is known as the Komodo monitor or the Komodo Island monitor. To the natives of Komodo Island, it is ora, meaning “land crocodile.”
The first difference between a monitor lizard and a Komodo dragon is their appearances. Given their large size, Komodo dragons have a more fearsome appearance than the average monitor lizard. The Komodo dragon’s neck and tail are more powerful and thicker, while some monitor lizards have average-sized tails and necks.
Komodo dragons average 10 feet long and 300 pounds, while most monitor species average 3-7 feet. Komodo dragons also have distinct features like a short frame and a predominantly carnivorous diet. Unlike some monitors, Komodo dragons cannot be domesticated.
Things to Know: Komodo dragons are the largest monitor lizards, unable to be domesticated, and found either in the wild or zoos. Monitor lizards vary widely in size and diet across Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Can you touch a monitor lizard?
If you see a monitor lizard, please keep your distance, do not try to touch it or contain it. There are over 25 species of monitor lizard in Australia. Monitor lizards are shy and will not attack humans unless provoked or cornered. Do not touch, chase or corner them as they may attack in defence. Although monitor lizards secrete venom, it is not fatal to humans. The main cause for concern would be bacterial infection from the bite.
Is a monitor lizard a reptile or a mammal? Monitor lizards Varanus salvator occur in very different ecosystems, they are excellent swimmers. Monitors feed on crabs, fish, mammals and carrion. Juveniles seem to prey on arthropods.
Can monitor lizards love humans? Monitor lizards are wild animals and should be treated as such. However, for the right person, monitor lizards can make ideal pets. They have amazing intelligence and are quite interactive with their owners. Water monitors tame down and can be surprisingly docile for such a large reptile.
If you’ve found an injured monitor lizard, phone wildlife experts immediately so that we can organise a trained rescuer. Keep an eye on the lizard from a safe distance. Keep all pets and people away until resolved. Do not approach or try to touch them as monitor lizards may appear slow yet remain wild animals. Trying to approach can be dangerous for both you and the lizard.
Although over 70 monitor lizard species exist, only a few are found as pets. The types range from small to large in different habitats. Most monitors happily eat any animal matter offered, from insects to mammals the size of dogs. In captivity, younger monitors eat cockroaches and eventually switch to rodents and vertebrates.
Do monitor lizards like being petted?
Monitor lizards can make excellent pets for the right person. Keeping monitor lizards requires patience, learning new skills, and caring for them adequately on a daily basis. While keeping a lizard as a pet may seem like fun, a monitor lizard is a major commitment and not a pet for most people.
There are currently about 80 species of monitor lizards and 4,675 species of lizards in the world. The Komodo dragon is also a monitor lizard, the largest living lizard species. Humans are also natural enemies of monitor lizards. Monitor lizards are usually dangerous when provoked but their bite is not fatal to humans.
If you are thinking about buying a monitor lizards you should consider the long term commitment to the animal. Monitor lizards are intelligent animals that can become tame and docile under the proper care. While numerous monitor lizard species exist, a few breeds are more commonly encountered in the pet trade. For those unfamiliar, monitor lizards are large reptiles with big claws, sharp teeth and muscular limbs. They are big, bigger than most lizards. Knowing that these things are basically dinosaurs it may come across as strange to know that some species of these big bad lizards wind up in pet stores. But just because its in a pet store that doesn’t mean it’s something anyone can just pick up and call their best friend.