MERTEN’S WATER MONITOR

Scientific name: Varanus mertensi
Family: Varanidae
Order: Squamata
Status: Least Concern

Habitat and Distribution

Found in the tropical river banks in the north of Australia.

About the animal:

  • Named after R. Mertens - German herpetologist;
  • Can grow to about 1m in length;
  • It likes to bask on rocks, logs and branches that overhang water pools;
  • If alarmed, it quickly dives into the water and remains submerged for up to 30 minutes;
  • It sometimes traps fishes in shallow drying pools by curving its tail to form a dam-like barrier.

What they eat?

Feeds on fishes, freshwater crabs, frogs, insects and turtle eggs.

 

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