Mitchell's water monitor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mitchell's water monitor |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Varanus
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| Species: |
mitchelli
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The Mitchell's water monitor (Varanus mitchelli) is a cool type of monitor lizard that loves water! It's a semiaquatic animal, meaning it spends time both on land and in water. This special lizard is part of the Varanidae family and can only be found in Australia.
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Why is it Called Mitchell's Water Monitor?
This monitor lizard gets its name, mitchelli, and its common name, Mitchell's water monitor, from an Australian expert. It's named after Francis John Mitchell (1929–1970). He was a herpetologist, which means he studied reptiles and amphibians. Mitchell worked at the South Australian Museum.
What Does it Look Like?
Mitchell's water monitor can grow up to about 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) long. That's almost as long as a baseball bat! It usually has a dark color. You might see many small yellow spots on its skin. Sometimes, these spots look like dark circles with a lighter center, called ocelli.
Where Does it Live?
You can find Mitchell's water monitor in the northern parts of Australia. Specifically, it lives in the north of Western Australia and across the Northern Territory.
What is its Habitat Like?
This monitor lizard loves water! Its favorite habitats are swamps, lagoons, and rivers that are inland. It also likes other bodies of water. You'll often spot it on trees that are close to the water's edge. For shelter, it prefers to hide in hollow parts of trees or under loose bark. If something disturbs it in the wild, the Mitchell's water monitor will quickly head for the water to escape.
Reproduction
Mitchell's water monitor is an oviparous animal. This means that, like many other reptiles and birds, it lays eggs. The young monitors hatch from these eggs.
Life in Captivity
When kept in captivity, Mitchell's water monitor is known to be quite nervous and shy. It doesn't like being around people much. Because of this, it's very rare to find one of these lizards in a zoo or as a pet.
What Does it Eat?
Mitchell's water monitor is a hunter! It eats smaller animals that live both on land and in the water. Its land-based meals can include smaller lizards, tiny mammals, and baby birds still in their nests. It also enjoys eating reptile eggs and land invertebrates. These invertebrates might be orthopterans (like grasshoppers), arachnids (like spiders), and beetles. When it's hunting in the water, it preys on fish, crabs, and frogs.
