Savannah monitor facts for kids
The savannah monitor (or Bosc's monitor) is a cool medium-sized monitor lizard that lives in Africa. Its scientific name is Varanus exanthematicus. These lizards are known for being strong and smart!
Quick facts for kids Savannah monitor |
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Contents
Where Savannah Monitors Live
Savannah monitors live across a big part of Africa, south of the Sahara desert. You can find them from countries like Senegal in the west all the way to Sudan in the east. They also live further south, almost reaching the Congo River and the Great Rift Valley.
These lizards usually stay on the ground. They like to hide in burrows, which are like underground tunnels. Sometimes, you might spot them in bushes or low trees, but they mostly prefer to stay close to the ground.
What Savannah Monitors Eat
Their Favorite Foods
In the wild, Savannah monitors mostly eat small creatures with hard shells. These include arthropods, like insects and spiders, and molluscs, like snails. They are very good at finding these tasty snacks!
Scientists have studied what these lizards eat in places like Senegal and Ghana. They found that Savannah monitors almost always eat these types of bugs and snails. They are not picky when it comes to their favorite crunchy meals!
Images for kids
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Graph showing bite force of the savannah monitor while feeding
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Captive savannah monitor, wearing a reptile harness
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See also
In Spanish: Varano de sabana para niños
