Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Cordats)
ClassSquamata
FamilyVaranidae (Monitor Lizards)
GenusVaranus (Monitor Lizards)
SpeciesVaranus salvator (Common Water Monitor)

Insufficient data

overall probability at Wilpattu National Park

3 Verified records at Wilpattu National Park

🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is a large varanid lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. It is widely considered to be the second-largest lizard species, after the Komodo dragon. It is distributed from eastern and northeastern India and Bangladesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, through southern China and Hainan Island in the east to Mainland Southeast Asia and the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Lombok, the Riau Archipelago, and Sulawesi. It is one of the most widespread monitor lizards. The Asian water monitor has a natural affinity towards water, inhabiting the surroundings of lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps, and various riparian habitats, including sewers, city parks, and urban waterways. It is an excellent swimmer and hunts fish, frogs, invertebrates, water birds, and other aquatic and amphibious prey. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Wilpattu National Park

Varanus bengalensis

80–90% · Very likely

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Common Water Monitor at Wilpattu National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Probability
1	Sundarbans National Park	🇮🇳 India	60–70%
2	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	60–70%
3	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	50–60%
4	Danum Valley Conservation Area	🇲🇾 Malaysia	50–60%
5	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	40–50%
6	Sinharaja Forest Reserve	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	40–50%
7	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	40–50%
8	Way Kambas National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	40–50%
9	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	30–40%
10	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	30–40%
11	Khao Luang National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	30–40%
12	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	30–40%
13	Kerinci Seblat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	10–20%
14	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	10–20%
15	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	10–20%
16	Kinabalu Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	5–10%
17	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	Insufficient data

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