The Nile Monitor lizard is Africa’s longest lizard. These lizards are known for being pursuit predators with powerful tails and claws. They have a forked tongue like a snake, which they use to essentially “smell” the air.
They live in woodlands, wetland, and savanna but always near water. Nile monitors are excellent swimmers and hunt around rivers and lakes.
They are carnivorous, and these ravenous reptiles prey on a variety of animals such as lizards, snakes, rodents, fish, amphibians and invertebrates.
I had the chance to photograph this Nile Monitor lizard in Zambia. They are quite impressive.
Tessa