# Nile Monitor (*Varanus niloticus*)

The Nile Monitor is a large lizard that loves water. It has a long tail and is a great swimmer.

- **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- **Also known as:** African Monitor

![Nile Monitor](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426620/objects/5618.jpg)

## Appearance

The Nile Monitor is a large lizard with an olive-green to grey-brown body covered in yellowish spots and bands. It has a long, powerful tail and a pointed snout, making it look sleek and agile.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Squamata
- **Order:** Lacertilia
- **Family:** Varanidae
- **Genus:** Varanus

## Interesting facts

- Baby monitors often hatch inside warm termite mounds, safe from predators.
- Some Nile monitors can grow as long as two adult humans lying head-to-toe!
- These clever reptiles can eat crocodile eggs, turning a predator into a meal!
- They are fantastic climbers, using strong claws to scale trees quickly!

## Special abilities

- **Underwater Hunter:** Nile Monitor can hold its breath for over an hour to hunt fish and other prey underwater.
- **Tail Whip Defense:** Nile Monitor has a powerful tail that helps them deliver a painful whip to scare off predators.
- **Super Sniffer:** Nile Monitor uses its forked tongue to 'smell' the air and track down prey from far away.
- **Egg Raider:** Nile Monitor can dig into the ground to steal and eat eggs from nests, even crocodile nests.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 120-240 cm
- **Weight:** 5-20 kg
- **Lifespan:** 10-20 years
- **Speed:** 20 km/h
- **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h
- **Clutch Size:** 20-60
- **Incubation:** 95-150 days
- **Maximum Depth:** 5 m

## Diet & Feeding

These powerful lizards eat almost anything they can catch, from tasty insects to fish and even crocodile eggs!

- **Age differences:** Young monitors eat more insects; adults prefer larger prey like fish, rodents, and birds.
- **Primary Foods:** Fish, Frogs, Rodents, Birds, Eggs, Insects
- **Foraging Method:** Ambush

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — Nile Monitors feast on their eggs.
- **Hunts:** African Catfish (*Clarias gariepinus*) — Frequently targeted prey in aquatic environments.
- **Hunts:** Cape Gerbil (*Tatera afra*) — Monitors prey on small rodents in their habitat.
- **Depends on:** Giant Termite (*Termes bellicosus*) — Lays eggs inside termite mounds for warmth.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
- [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
- [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day.

## Collections

- [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Nile Monitor?

Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Nile Monitor?

120-240 cm

### How much does Nile Monitor weigh?

5-20 kg

### How long does Nile Monitor live?

10-20 years

### How fast can Nile Monitor move?

20 km/h

### What does Nile Monitor eat?

These powerful lizards eat almost anything they can catch, from tasty insects to fish and even crocodile eggs!

### How fast can Nile Monitor swim?

8 km/h

### Where is Nile Monitor usually found?

Rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

## More Reptiles

- [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*)
- [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*)
- [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*)
- [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*)

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Source: [Nile Monitor: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nile-monitor)