Land Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis)
Land monitors reach a maximum snout to vent length of about 140 cm in Sri Lanka and large specimens can weigh over 10 kg. Despite their large size, these lizards get most of their nutrition from tiny prey and feed mainly on beetles, grubs, scorpions, snails, ants and other small invertebrates, which are consumed in enormous numbers. Hence they are important biological controllers of agricultural pests.
Photographer: Dave Saunders