Varanus (Monitor Lizards)

Genus

Monitor Lizards

Varanus

35 species in our catalog · found in 100 parks

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

Species in this group

Each card shows the species at its best park — tap for the full profile

Komodo Dragon

Varanus komodoensis

Daily sighting probability >90% · Very likely

Mertens's Water Monitor

Varanus mertensi

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Bengal Monitor

Varanus bengalensis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Southern Heath Monitor

Varanus rosenbergi

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Lace Monitor

Varanus varius

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Clouded Monitor

Varanus nebulosus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Gould's Goanna

Varanus gouldii

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Mangrove Monitor

Varanus indicus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Black-palmed Rock Monitor

Varanus glebopalma

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Argus Monitor

Varanus panoptes

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Perentie

Varanus giganteus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Rock Monitor

Varanus albigularis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Roughneck Monitor

Varanus rudicollis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Blue-spotted Tree Monitor

Varanus macraei

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Black-headed Monitor

Varanus tristis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Peach-throated Monitor

Varanus jobiensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Rusty Desert Monitor

Varanus eremius

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Ridgetail Monitor

Varanus acanthurus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Banded Tree Monitor

Varanus scalaris

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Emerald Monitor

Varanus prasinus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Glauert's Monitor

Varanus glauerti

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Black-spotted Ridge-tailed Monitor

Varanus insulanicus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Bosc's Monitor

Varanus exanthematicus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Crocodile Monitor

Varanus salvadorii

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Mitchell's Water Monitor

Varanus mitchelli

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Pygmy Mulga Monitor

Varanus gilleni

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Dumeril's Monitor

Varanus dumerilii

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Northern Blunt-spined Monitor

Varanus primordius

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Bluetail Monitor

Varanus doreanus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Golden-spotted Tree Monitor

Varanus boehmei

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Reisinger's Tree Monitor

Varanus reisingeri

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Rainer Günther’s Monitor

Varanus rainerguentheri

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Rusty Monitor

Varanus semiremex

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

See all 35 species Show fewer

Daily sighting probability by month

Probability-weighted average across the group's species

~40%

Jan

~40%

Feb

~40%

Mar

~40%

Apr

~30%

May

~40%

Jun

~30%

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

Worldwide records of this group (human observations from 2019 onwards, GBIF). Pins mark our parks — tap one for the chance of seeing at least one species of the group there.

Parks Ranked

Chance of seeing at least one species of the group · number of its species present

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