Rock Monitor Lizard

Botswana is the home of two species of Monitor lizards, known as Kwathe in Setswana: the Nile Monitor and the Rock Monitor.

We get only the latter. Not surprisingly so, as the Nile Monitor likes water, and it was at one stage known as the water monitor. Both stand on their hind legs to monitor their surroundings, hence their name. 

The famous Komodo dragon is a species of monitor lizard. Thank goodness we don’t get them here, ours are far less dangerous, but ours can still grow to be 2 meters in length, although this is rather rare. Nile monitor lizards are actually Africa’s largest lizard. The Rock monitor lizard is a bit shorter and stockier but has a longer tail. These long tails are used by the monitor lizards as oars when swimming and whips when defending themselves (as our cats have found out).

Some herpetologists say they are more closely related to a snake than a lizard. With their distinctive forked tongues that they use to detect scent from the air. They also hiss when they feel threatened.

They are also considered the most intelligent of all lizards, when kept in captivity they can be trained to count to 6 and in the wild, they are able to remember where their hiding places are, specifically the various routes to get there. They are also the only lizard species that don’t regrow their tail after losing it.

They are carnivores and will eat anything, this depends on their size. The larger they are, the bigger the prey. The one that lives around our house, about 80cm in length, eats insects, grubs, etc. Larger ones will eat anything from eggs to small mammals, fish, other small reptiles and birds.

Monitor lizards lay from 7 to 38 eggs, which they often cover with soil or protect in a hollow tree stump.

Monitor lizard do not hibernate but they brumate which is hibernation-like state to handle temperature extremes. In brumation an animal does not exactly sleep, but slows down its metabolism and continues to feed.

Myths

Is it a good omen or a sign of coming bad luck coming your way?

It is generally believed that seeing a lizard in your house means that something new is coming into your life that your life is being ‘refreshed’ or that good luck, prosperity and abundance is coming to you.