Nile monitor

/nˈaɪl mˈɒnɪtə/

/nˈaɪl mˈɑːnɪɾɚ/

[noun]

Nile monitor

[NOUN]

a large, aggressive lizard species found in Africa, known for its excellent swimming ability and carnivorous diet

synonyms : leguaan

What is a "Nile monitor"?

The Nile monitor is a large lizard species found in various parts of Africa, including the Nile River region. It is one of the largest species of monitor lizards, growing up to 2 meters in length. Nile monitors have muscular bodies, long tails, and rough, scaled skin. They are excellent swimmers and are often found near bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and swamps. Nile monitors are opportunistic predators, feeding on a wide range of prey including fish, birds, small mammals, and even carrion. Despite their impressive size and predatory nature, they are generally wary of humans and will often flee when approached.

Examples

1. But actually, hawks will take owls of this size, and any sort of land predator, even something like a Nile Monitor, if it had the opportunity to head up into a tree and eat an owl like this it would.