Wildlifeof Malaysia
Bengal Monitor
Monitor Lizards
Photo: no rights reserved · CC0
Varanus bengalensis
Basic stats
Diet
Invertebrates, frogs, fish, lizards, snakes, rodents, hares and birds
Range
Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast and West Asia
Clutch size
About 20 eggs
Size
Up to 175cm total (snout–vent 75cm)
Weight
Heavy individuals nearly 7.2kg
The Bengal monitor, or Indian monitor, is among the most widely distributed monitor lizards, found in the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia and West Asia. It can reach 175 cm, with a snout-vent length of 75 cm and a tail of 100 cm, and heavy individuals weigh nearly 7.2 kg. Males are generally larger. Young monitors are more colourful, with dark crossbars on the neck, throat and back and yellow spots on the back (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is usually solitary and mostly ground-living, though the young are often in trees. It is diurnal, shy and wary of people, and a generalist feeder (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What does the Bengal Monitor eat?
- Invertebrates, frogs, fish, lizards, snakes, rodents, hares and birds
- Where is the Bengal Monitor found?
- Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast and West Asia
- How many eggs does the Bengal Monitor lay?
- About 20 eggs
- How big is the Bengal Monitor?
- Up to 175cm total (snout–vent 75cm)
- How much does the Bengal Monitor weigh?
- Heavy individuals nearly 7.2kg