Family Varanidae
The Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) is one of the most familiar reptiles in Singapore. It is commonly found near rivers, mangroves and reservoirs. It can grow to 2 m long and is sometimes mistaken by visitors to Sungei Buloh as crocodiles. It is distinguished from the Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus) by the position of the nostrils being near the tip of the snout, whereas the nostrils of the Clouded Monitor are midway between the snout and the eyes. It also lacks the yellow spots on the body of the Clouded Monitor. Habitat-wise, the Clouded Monitor prefers forests, whereas the Water Monitor prefers waterbodies. There is a third species of monitor in Singapore, the Dumeril's Monitor (Varanus dumerili), which is recently rediscovered in the Nee Soon Swamp Forest.
Clouded Monitor
©Tan GC. Hindhede Nature Park ©Tan KH
Sunning itself on Pulau Ubin ©Tan KH
Foraging at Central Catchment ©Tan KH
Water Monitor
Eating frog at Bt Panjang ©Eddy Lee
Arboreal wrestling at Pasir Ris Park ©Tan KH
Eating African Walking Catfish at Botanic Gardens ©Tan KH
Eating fish at Sungei Buloh ©Tan KH
Eating vinegar crab at Pasir Ris Park ©Tan KH
Eating turtle at Lower Peirce ©Tan KH
Eating Banded Bullfrog at Punggol Waterway ©Tan KH
Mating at Serangoon Reservoir ©Tan KH
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