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Nile monitor Lizard
Varanus niloticus
-2.36713, 9.65641
Field Notes
Description:
Nile Monitors can grow to about 9 feet in length. They have muscular bodies, strong legs and powerful jaws. The teeth are sharp and pointed in juvenile animals and become blunt and peg-like in adults. They also possess sharp claws used for climbing, digging, defense, or tearing at their prey. Like all monitors they have a forked tongue, with highly developed olfactory properties.
Their nostrils are placed high on the snout, indicating that these animals are highly aquatic, but are also excellent climbers and quick runners on land. Nile Monitors feed on fish, snails, frogs, crocodile eggs and young, snakes, birds, small mammals, large insects, and carrion.
Habitat:
Niles live throughout Africa. I spotted this one on a mangrove tree near the rainforest in Loango np.
Notes:
Saw this nile monitor while on a boat in Loango np.
Loango National Park offers breathtaking panoramas and the unique opportunity to observe elephants, buffalos, hippos, gorillas and leopards venturing onto the white sand beaches.
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