Genus

Monitor Lizards

Varanus

24 species in our catalog · found in 83 parks

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyVaranidae (Monitor Lizards)
GenusVaranus (Monitor Lizards)

Species in this group

EN Endemic

Varanus komodoensis

Daily sighting probability >90% · Very likely

Varanus bengalensis

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

EN Endemic

Varanus mertensi

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

LC Endemic

Varanus rosenbergi

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Varanus salvator

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Varanus nebulosus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Varanus niloticus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Varanus indicus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

LC Endemic

Varanus varius

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Varanus albigularis

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Varanus gouldii

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

LC Endemic

Varanus glebopalma

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Varanus panoptes

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Varanus macraei

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

LC Endemic

Varanus giganteus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Varanus rudicollis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Varanus tristis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Varanus jobiensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Varanus prasinus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

LC Endemic

Varanus eremius

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

LC Endemic

Varanus glauerti

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Endemic

Varanus insulanicus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Varanus salvadorii

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

LC Endemic

Varanus acanthurus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 24 species Show fewer

Daily sighting probability by month

Probability-weighted average across the group's species

~40%

Jan

~40%

Feb

~40%

Mar

~40%

Apr

~40%

May

~40%

Jun

~40%

Jul

~40%

Aug

~40%

Sep

~40%

Oct

~40%

Nov

~40%

Dec

When they're spotted

When the group's species are recorded (aggregated)

Where to see Monitor Lizards

Warmer areas are where this group is recorded most often. Shaded: the known ranges of its 47 species, darker where more of them overlap (GARD, Roll et al. 2017 & Caetano et al. 2022). Our parks Our cities In captivity: 349 zoos & centres

Parks Ranked

#	Park	Country	Species	Daily sighting probability
1	Komodo National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	>90%
	Komodo Dragon			>90%
2	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	2 of 24	~90%
	Bengal Monitor			~70%
	Common Water Monitor			~60%
3	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 24	~90%
	Bengal Monitor			~90%
4	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 24	~90%
	Bengal Monitor			~90%
5	Litchfield National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~80%
	Mertens's Water Monitor			~80%
6	Udawalawe National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	2 of 24	~80%
	Bengal Monitor			~80%
	Common Water Monitor			~30%
7	Raja Ampat	🇮🇩 Indonesia	5 of 24	~80%
	Mangrove Monitor			~50%
	Blue-spotted Tree Monitor			~30%
	Peach-throated Monitor			~20%
	Emerald Monitor			~20%
	Crocodile Monitor			~10%
8	Flinders Chase	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~80%
	Southern Heath Monitor			~80%
9	Kakadu National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	7 of 24	~80%
	Argus Monitor			~30%
	Mertens's Water Monitor			~30%
	Black-headed Monitor			~20%
	Gould's Goanna			~20%
	Glauert's Monitor			~10%
	🦎 Black-spotted Ridge-tailed Monitor			~10%
	Black-palmed Rock Monitor			~10%
10	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	2 of 24	~80%
	Bengal Monitor			~60%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
11	Taman Negara National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	2 of 24	~80%
	Clouded Monitor			~70%
	Common Water Monitor			~30%
12	Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	4 of 24	~80%
	Gould's Goanna			~50%
	Perentie			~30%
	Black-headed Monitor			~20%
	Rusty Desert Monitor			~20%
13	Bako National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	2 of 24	~80%
	Common Water Monitor			~70%
	Roughneck Monitor			~30%
14	Sundarbans National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~80%
	Common Water Monitor			~80%
15	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	1 of 24	~70%
	Common Water Monitor			~70%
16	Hattah-Kulkyne National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	2 of 24	~70%
	Gould's Goanna			~50%
	Lace Monitor			~40%
17	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	2 of 24	~70%
	Clouded Monitor			~60%
	Common Water Monitor			~20%
18	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	2 of 24	~60%
	Common Water Monitor			~50%
	Clouded Monitor			~30%
19	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	2 of 24	~60%
	Common Water Monitor			~60%
	Clouded Monitor			~20%
20	Niokolo-Koba National Park	🇸🇳 Senegal	1 of 24	~60%
	Nile Monitor			~60%
21	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	1 of 24	~60%
	Nile Monitor			~60%
22	Nitmiluk National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	2 of 24	~60%
	Mertens's Water Monitor			~40%
	Black-palmed Rock Monitor			~40%
23	Danum Valley Conservation Area	🇲🇾 Malaysia	2 of 24	~60%
	Common Water Monitor			~50%
	Roughneck Monitor			~20%
24	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	2 of 24	~60%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
	Rock Monitor			~30%
25	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	2 of 24	~60%
	Rock Monitor			~40%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
26	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	2 of 24	~60%
	Clouded Monitor			~40%
	Common Water Monitor			~30%
27	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	1 of 24	~60%
	Nile Monitor			~60%
28	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	2 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
	Rock Monitor			~30%
29	Noosa National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~50%
	Lace Monitor			~50%
30	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	1 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~50%
31	Sepilok	🇲🇾 Malaysia	2 of 24	~50%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
	Roughneck Monitor			~10%
32	Royal National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	2 of 24	~50%
	Lace Monitor			~50%
	Southern Heath Monitor			~10%
33	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 24	~50%
	Rock Monitor			~50%
34	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	1 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~50%
35	Ningaloo Marine Park	🇦🇺 Australia	3 of 24	~50%
	Gould's Goanna			~20%
	Perentie			~20%
	Ridgetail Monitor			~10%
36	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	1 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~50%
37	uMkhuze Game Reserve	🇿🇦 South Africa	2 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
	Rock Monitor			~30%
38	Cape Range	🇦🇺 Australia	2 of 24	~50%
	Gould's Goanna			~30%
	Perentie			~20%
39	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	2 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
	Rock Monitor			~20%
40	Keoladeo National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~50%
	Bengal Monitor			~50%
41	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	2 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
	Rock Monitor			~20%
42	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	1 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~50%
43	Sinharaja Forest Reserve	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 24	~50%
	Common Water Monitor			~50%
44	Daintree National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~50%
	Lace Monitor			~50%
45	Flinders Ranges National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~50%
	Gould's Goanna			~50%
46	Way Kambas National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~40%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
47	Gunung Leuser National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~40%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
48	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~40%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
49	Lake Manyara National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	1 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
50	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	1 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
51	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
52	Manas National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~40%
	Bengal Monitor			~40%
53	Tanjung Puting National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~40%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
54	Lower Zambezi National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	1 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
55	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	1 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
56	Periyar National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~40%
	Bengal Monitor			~40%
57	Mudumalai National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~40%
	Bengal Monitor			~40%
58	Mana Pools National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	1 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
59	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~40%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
60	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	2 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
	Rock Monitor			~10%
61	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	2 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
	Rock Monitor			~10%
62	Nagarhole National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~40%
	Bengal Monitor			~40%
63	Khao Luang National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	1 of 24	~30%
	Common Water Monitor			~30%
64	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	1 of 24	~30%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
65	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	1 of 24	~30%
	Bengal Monitor			~30%
66	Jim Corbett National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~30%
	Bengal Monitor			~30%
67	Royal Manas National Park	🇧🇹 Bhutan	1 of 24	~30%
	Bengal Monitor			~30%
68	Lamington National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~30%
	Lace Monitor			~30%
69	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	1 of 24	~30%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
70	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 24	~30%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
71	Blue Mountains National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	2 of 24	~30%
	Lace Monitor			~30%
	Southern Heath Monitor			~10%
72	Ranthambore National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~30%
	Bengal Monitor			~30%
73	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 24	~30%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
74	Odzala-Kokoua National Park	🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo	1 of 24	~30%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
75	Bandipur National Park	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~30%
	Bengal Monitor			~30%
76	Springbrook National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~30%
	Lace Monitor			~30%
77	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	1 of 24	~20%
	Nile Monitor			~20%
78	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 24	~20%
	Nile Monitor			~20%
79	Grampians National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~20%
	Lace Monitor			~20%
80	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	1 of 24	~20%
	Rock Monitor			~20%
81	Kosciuszko National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~20%
	Southern Heath Monitor			~20%
82	Kinabalu Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	1 of 24	~10%
	Common Water Monitor			~10%
83	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 24	~10%
	Nile Monitor			~10%

Cities Ranked

#	City	Country	Species	Daily sighting probability
1	Colombo [Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte]	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	2 of 24	~80%
	Common Water Monitor			~70%
	Bengal Monitor			~50%
2	Johor Bahru	🇲🇾 Malaysia	2 of 24	~80%
	Common Water Monitor			~70%
	Clouded Monitor			~20%
3	Kuala Lumpur	🇲🇾 Malaysia	2 of 24	~70%
	Common Water Monitor			~50%
	Clouded Monitor			~40%
4	Bangkok	🇹🇭 Thailand	1 of 24	~70%
	Common Water Monitor			~70%
5	Singapore	🇸🇬 Singapore	2 of 24	~70%
	Common Water Monitor			~50%
	Clouded Monitor			~40%
6	Padang	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~70%
	Common Water Monitor			~70%
7	Jakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~70%
	Common Water Monitor			~70%
8	Denpasar	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~60%
	Common Water Monitor			~60%
9	Kuching	🇲🇾 Malaysia	1 of 24	~60%
	Common Water Monitor			~60%
10	Savar	🇧🇩 Bangladesh	1 of 24	~60%
	Bengal Monitor			~60%
11	Lagos	🇳🇬 Nigeria	1 of 24	~50%
	Nile Monitor			~50%
12	Kolkata	🇮🇳 India	2 of 24	~50%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
	Bengal Monitor			~10%
13	Dehradun	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~50%
	Bengal Monitor			~50%
14	Surabaya	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~50%
	Common Water Monitor			~50%
15	Dhaka	🇧🇩 Bangladesh	1 of 24	~40%
	Bengal Monitor			~40%
16	Yogyakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~40%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
17	Serrekunda	🇬🇲 Gambia	1 of 24	~40%
	Nile Monitor			~40%
18	Semarang	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~40%
	Common Water Monitor			~40%
19	Ouagadougou	🇧🇫 Burkina Faso	1 of 24	~30%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
20	Jodhpur	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~30%
	Bengal Monitor			~30%
21	Surakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	1 of 24	~30%
	Common Water Monitor			~30%
22	Kampala	🇺🇬 Uganda	1 of 24	~30%
	Nile Monitor			~30%
23	Vadodara	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~30%
	Bengal Monitor			~30%
24	Kozhikode	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~30%
	Bengal Monitor			~30%
25	Luxor	🇪🇬 Egypt	1 of 24	~20%
	Nile Monitor			~20%
26	Brisbane	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~20%
	Lace Monitor			~20%
27	Kochi	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~20%
	Bengal Monitor			~20%
28	Sydney	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	~10%
	Lace Monitor			~10%
29	Harare	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	1 of 24	~10%
	Nile Monitor			~10%
30	Pretoria	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 24	~10%
	Rock Monitor			~10%
31	Durban	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 24	~10%
	Nile Monitor			~10%
32	Mumbai	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~10%
	Bengal Monitor			~10%
33	New Delhi	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~10%
	Bengal Monitor			~10%
34	Hyderabad	🇮🇳 India	1 of 24	~10%
	Bengal Monitor			~10%
35	Perth	🇦🇺 Australia	1 of 24	<5%
	Black-headed Monitor			<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Disney's Animal Kingdom	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Ragunan Zoo	🇮🇩 Indonesia	In captivity
3	Busch Gardens Tampa	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	San Diego Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
5	Moscow Zoo	🇷🇺 Russia	In captivity
6	Pairi Daiza	🇧🇪 Belgium	In captivity
7	Prague Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
8	National Zoological Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
9	Shedd Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
10	Basel Zoo	🇨🇭 Switzerland	In captivity
11	ZooParc de Beauval	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
12	Leipzig Zoological Garden	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
13	Denver Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
14	Copenhagen Zoo	🇩🇰 Denmark	In captivity
15	Tierpark Berlin	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
16	Natura Artis Magistra	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
17	Skansen	🇸🇪 Sweden	In captivity
18	Dublin Zoo	🇮🇪 Ireland	In captivity
19	Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
20	Dresden Zoo	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
21	Aquarium of Genoa	🇮🇹 Italy	In captivity
22	Antwerp Zoo	🇧🇪 Belgium	In captivity
23	Barcelona Zoo	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
24	North Carolina Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
25	Australia Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
26	Cabarceno Natural Park	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
27	Ostrava Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
28	Dvůr Králové Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
29	Zoo Pilsen	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
30	Taman Safari Bali (Bali Safari)	🇮🇩 Indonesia	In captivity
31	Bali Zoo	🇮🇩 Indonesia	In captivity
32	Réserve africaine de Sigean	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
33	Jihlava Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
34	Greensboro Science Center	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
35	Zoo de Doué	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
36	Brno Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
37	Zoobotánico Jerez	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
38	Karagandy Zoo	🇰🇿 Kazakhstan	In captivity
39	Taronga Western Plains Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
40	Vinpearl Safari	🇻🇳 Vietnam	In captivity
41	Nandankanan Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
42	Arignar Anna Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
43	Zoo Miami	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
44	Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
45	Beijing Wildlife Park	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
46	Taman Safari Indonesia	🇮🇩 Indonesia	In captivity
47	Toronto Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
48	Minnesota Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
49	Taman Safari Bogor	🇮🇩 Indonesia	In captivity
50	Nehru Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity

Show all 50 Show fewer

Challenges

Part of the challengeSoutheast Asian JungleSoutheast AsiaLong-tailed macaqueWater monitorPied hornbillTree squirrel

Part of the challengeKomodo IslandSoutheast AsiaKomodo dragonMacaqueTimor deer

Monitor Lizards

Species in this group

Komodo Dragon

Bengal Monitor

Mertens's Water Monitor

Southern Heath Monitor

Common Water Monitor

Clouded Monitor

Nile Monitor

Mangrove Monitor

Lace Monitor

Rock Monitor

Gould's Goanna

Black-palmed Rock Monitor

Argus Monitor

Blue-spotted Tree Monitor

Perentie

Roughneck Monitor

Black-headed Monitor

Peach-throated Monitor

Emerald Monitor

Rusty Desert Monitor

Glauert's Monitor

Black-spotted Ridge-tailed Monitor

Crocodile Monitor

Ridgetail Monitor

Daily sighting probability by month

When they're spotted

Where to see Monitor Lizards

Parks Ranked

Cities Ranked

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Challenges