Varanus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Conradie, Werner, Keates, Chad, Verburgt, Luke, Baptista, Ninda L., Harvey, James, Júlio, Timóteo & Neef, Götz, 2022, Contributions to the herpetofauna of the Angolan Okavango-Cuando-Zambezi River drainages. Part 2: Lizards (Sauria), chelonians, and crocodiles, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 322) 16 (2), pp. 181-214 : 206

Varanus niloticus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Water Monitor ( Fig. 38 , Map 35)

Observations: Cuando River -13.09320° 19.36016°, -13.10063° 19.37254°, -13.12122° 19.39664°, -13.17326° 19.42046°, -13.18493° 19.43374°, -13.19005° 19.44007°, -13.19016° 19.44147°, -13.20209° 19.46860°, -13.21743° 19.45877°, -13.31917° 19.49327°, -13.32957° 19.49497°, -13.35510° 19.50343°, -13.35558° 19.50442°, -13.67297° 19.56172°, -13.79270° 19.61024°, -13.85453° 19.629620°, -13.90348° 19.65057°, -13.92381° 19.65753°, -14.03595° 19.69015°, -14.27281° 18.85794° (iNaturalist 1727927), -14.346620° 19.87581°, -14.92236° 20.31874°; Quembo River -13.17842° 19.13734°, -13.25178° 19.17143°, -13.25356° 19.17294°, -13.29163° 19.18123°, -13.33984° 19.20500°, -13.43206° 19.23945°, -13.48539° 19.24675°, -13.56702° 19.305067°, -13.56871° 19.30585°, -13.67061° 19.35595°, -13.67866° 19.35836°, -13.77110° 19.37386°, -13.79160° 19.38176°, -13.80572° 19.38648°, -13.81202° 19.38591°, -13.88262° 19.39604°, -13.93431° 19.42397°, -13.93599° 19.42577°, -13.99462° 19.43543°, -14.55758° 19.70635°, -14.67219° 19.83275°, -14.68235° 19.84010°, -14.68799° 19.85021°, -14.74537° 19.90861°, -14.76761° 19.93762°, -14.77509° 19.95381°, -14.92917° 20.15534°, -14.95729° 20.21396°, -14.95792° 20.36728°, -14.96685° 20.29766°, -14.96740° 20.46661°, -14.97001° 20.56494°, -14.97947° 20.23928°, -14.97965° 20.43558°, -14.98357° 20.45164°, -15.12585° 21.03947°, -15.18248° 21.08478°, -15.34301° 21.25209°, -15.42151° 21.34750°, -15.42435° 21.34192°, -15.49507° 21.38893°, -15.53690° 21.40043°, -15.58262° 21.43537°, -15.92187° 21.70659°, -15.96243° 21.79459°, -16.34916° 22.06133°, -16.37759° 22.069423°, -16.38589° 22.08581°, -16.39687° 22.097313°; Lungwebungu River -12.55000° 19.37939°, -12.50378° 19.44091°, -12.43436° 19.47018°, -12.38381° 19.54014°, -12.38389° 19.77781°, -12.40754° 19.80887°, -12.42778° 19.84023°, -12.43711° 19.85936°, -12.77029° 20.98921°, -12.80185° 21.03409°, -12.81192° 21.04544°, -12.85937° 21.14091°, -12.93685° 21.24336°, -12.95462° 21.26790°, -12.98417° 21.28638°, -13.24428° 21.59976°. Comment: This species was mostly encountered on the banks of rivers or basking on overhanging fig trees. However, one individual was captured very far from any known water source, presumably during a migration event between water sources.

Figures

Fig. 38. Adult unsexed Varanus niloticus from en route between the Munhango and Cuanavale River sources. Photo by Werner Conradie.