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

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

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

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

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 237

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Reptile Database

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