Found across southern and eastern Africa, from dry savannas to rocky hillsides, this impressive reptile is closely related to the famous Komodo dragon, though it’s smaller and less aggressive. Despite its size and strength, the rock monitor is generally a calm, shy creature, relying more on stealth and power than speed.
Rock monitors have a thick body, stout legs, and a large head with a short, blunt snout. Their skin is covered in tough, armored scales, usually colored grayish-brown or olive with lighter or darker patterns that help them blend into rocky or sandy backgrounds. Their name comes from their preference for rugged, rocky environments where they can hide among boulders or dig burrows for shelter.
These lizards are carnivorous and opportunistic feeders. Their diet includes insects, small mammals, birds, reptiles, eggs, and carrion. They have strong, sharp claws for digging and climbing, and their forked tongues — much like a snake’s — are constantly flicking to pick up chemical signals from the environment, helping them locate hidden prey. They’re patient hunters and can track prey over long distances.
Rock monitors are excellent diggers and can burrow deep into the ground to escape heat or predators. They often use abandoned aardvark or warthog burrows or dig their tunnels with their powerful limbs. They can also climb trees when necessary, especially when searching for food like bird eggs or escaping predators.
Rock monitors are active during the day, especially during cooler parts of the morning and late afternoon. When threatened, they can defend themselves impressively — puffing up their bodies, hissing loudly, whipping their tails, and even delivering painful bites with their strong jaws. Their bite can carry a mild dose of saliva bacteria, which helps incapacitate prey, although it’s not dangerous to healthy humans with proper wound care.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Somalia
South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
