Mertens's Water Monitor
Varanus mertensi
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyVaranidae (Monitor Lizards)
- GenusVaranus (Monitor Lizards)
- SpeciesVaranus mertensi (Mertens's Water Monitor)
Mertens' water monitor (Varanus mertensi) is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is native to northern Australia, and is a wide-ranging, actively foraging, opportunistic predator of aquatic and riparian habitats. It is named after German herpetologist Robert Mertens. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Mertens's Water Monitor sighting in Nitmiluk National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
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 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Mertens's Water Monitor in Nitmiluk National Park?
About 34% of wildlife watchers report a Mertens's Water Monitor sighting in Nitmiluk National Park, based on 12 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Mertens's Water Monitor in Nitmiluk National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Mertens's Water Monitor in Nitmiluk National Park in our monthly data.