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Nile monitors grow to about 1.5 to 2 meters (4.5 to 6.5 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.
In Southern Africa they are commonly referred to as "leguaan," from the Dutch for iguana. |
