Rock Monitor

Afrikaans name: Veldlikkewaan

Rock Monitor

Photo © mgkuijpers - Fotolia.com

Varanus albigularis

The Rock Monitor, or Rock Legavaan, is one large lizard. It can grow to a length of over 1.5 metres and can weigh around 15 kg. Females are quite a bit smaller than males.

These large reptiles are widely distributed across Africa from South Africa to Somalia.

Unlike the Nile Monitor these are not associated with water. They are able to climb trees.

When cornered the Rock Monitor will lash out with its tail which can cause a nasty wound.

They feed on a wide variety of things including birds, small mammals, eggs, reptiles and insects.

Photo © lisastrachan - Fotolia.com

References and further reading

Wild Issue 21 - Author: - Published: 2012 - Page: 75

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 250

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 72

Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2000 - Page: 22

The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park - Author: U. de V. Pienaar, WD Haacke and NHG Jacobsen - Published: 1983 - Page: 113

Sasol First Field Guide to Snakes & other Reptiles of Southern Africa - 2nd edit - Author: Tracey Hawthorne - Published: 2016 - Page: 48

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 237

Questions and Answers - Snakes and Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: John Comrie-Greig - Published: 1992 - Page: 28

Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Rod Patterson and Anothony Bannister - Published: 1987 - Page: 59

Reptiles & Amphibians of Southern Africa - Author: Warren Schmidt - Published: 2006 - Page: 51

Questions and Answers - Snakes and Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: John Comrie-Greig - Published: 1992 - Page: 18

KwaZulu-Natal - A celebration of biodiversity - Author: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - Published: 2002 - Page: 131

Kruger National Park Questions and Answers - Author: P.F. Fourie - Published: 1987 - Page: 359

Getaway Guide to the Kruger National Park - Author: Cameron Ewart-Smith - Published: 2005 - Page: 210

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 407

A Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Graham Alexander and Johan Marais - Published: 2007 - Page: 211

African Wildlife - A photographic safari - Author: Nigel and Wendy Dennis - Published: 1999 - Page: 74

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 120

Bill Branch s Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa - Author: Bill Branch - Published: 1988 - Page: 172

Game Ranger in your Backpack - Author: Megan Emmett and Sean Pattrick - Published: 2013 - Page: 196

Country Life - Issue 187 - Author: - Published: 2012 - Page: 78

A Field Guide to the Eastern Cape Coast - Author: R. Lubke, F. Gess & M. Bruton - Published: 1988 - Page: 257

The Reptile Database

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