Common Water Monitor
Common Water MonitorCommon Water MonitorCommon Water MonitorCommon Water Monitor

Common Water Monitor

Varanus salvator

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
40–50% · Likely
overall probability at Khao Sok National Park
61 Verified records at Khao Sok National Park
July Best month highest sighting rate
🌅 Crepuscular When it's active at dawn and dusk

The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is a large varanid lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. It is widely considered to be the second-largest lizard species, after the Komodo dragon. It is distributed from eastern and northeastern India and Bangladesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, through southern China and Hainan Island in the east to Mainland Southeast Asia and the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Lombok, the Riau Archipelago, and Sulawesi. It is one of the most widespread monitor lizards. The Asian water monitor has a natural affinity towards water, inhabiting the surroundings of lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps, and various riparian habitats, including sewers, city parks, and urban waterways. It is an excellent swimmer and hunts fish, frogs, invertebrates, water birds, and other aquatic and amphibious prey. Wikipedia →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Common Water Monitor sighting in Khao Sok National Park, based on 61 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Khao Sok National Park

Clouded Monitor

Clouded Monitor

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Varanus nebulosus

30–40% · Possible
Dumeril's Monitor

Dumeril's Monitor

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Varanus dumerilii

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

40–50
Jan
40–50
Feb
30–40
Mar
50–60
Apr
40–50
May
50–60
Jun
60–70
Jul
50–60
Aug
50–60
Sep
40–50
Oct
50–60
Nov
40–50
Dec

🌅 When They're Spotted

Most active at dawn and dusk · across all parks (global)

🌅Crepuscular
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
60–70%
2 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
60–70%
3 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
50–60%
4 Danum Valley Conservation Area 🇲🇾 Malaysia
50–60%
5 Khao Sok National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
40–50%
6 Sinharaja Forest Reserve 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
40–50%
7 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
40–50%
8 Way Kambas National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
40–50%
9 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
30–40%
10 Bali Barat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
30–40%
11 Khao Luang National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
30–40%
12 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
30–40%
13 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
10–20%
14 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
10–20%
15 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
10–20%
16 Kinabalu Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
5–10%
17 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common Water Monitor in Khao Sok National Park?

About 49% of wildlife watchers report a Common Water Monitor sighting in Khao Sok National Park, based on 61 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common Water Monitor in Khao Sok National Park?

July has the highest sighting rate for Common Water Monitor in Khao Sok National Park in our monthly data.

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