Greetings from Sri Lanka
Land Monitor Lizards
I’ve spotted these impressive reptiles, the largest of Sri Lanka’s lizards, all over the country. In the national parks, in the gardens around Sigirya’s Lion Rock and even in the busy streets of Galle Fort.
The one in my feature photo was warming himself by the roadside as we passed quite early one morning. Land monitors spend the night in a burrow, where their body temperature drops. The following morning they raise their body temperature by basking in the sun before commencing any activity, as he was doing. The one on the left, in contrast, was photographed late afternoon at Sigirya and was busily digging for termites.
42 Comments
equinoxio21
There were such lizards on my magical island in West Africa.
(Sigirya… Such a magical name…)
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes, I can imagine them there too!
wetanddustyroads
I can understand that you would find these lizards in gardens or national parks, but it’s weird that they also appear in busy streets!
Sarah Wilkie
I should clarify that the streets in Galle were busy with tourists exploring, tuk-tuks and motorbikes, but it’s not a major metropolis with very heavy traffic etc!
notesoflifeuk
They look quite big!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes – up to 1.75 metres in length, though I don’t think we saw any much over a metre
Smitha V
Thankfully, I did not run into these lizards when we visited Sri Lanka or climbed Sigriya, or maybe I don’t remember. If I had, I might have just run away. It was before I began blogging and taking pictures of everything :).
Sarah Wilkie
I think you’d remember if you’d seen them! But they really aren’t scary, and certainly not dangerous 😀
Smitha V
Oh really, they look creepy😊. Which part of SL are you in?
Sarah Wilkie
We’ve been travelling around quite a bit! I’ll write up some more detailed posts once we’re home and I’ve sorted it photos 😀
Smitha V
Looking forward to it! Have a great and safe stay💕
grandmisadventures
I don’t know if I would want to run in with these lizards- I think I’d prefer seeing them from a distance 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
We’ve not been warned that they’re dangerous and they seem wary of getting too close to people.
travelling_han
I have always wanted to visit Sri Lanka, it looks like such an amazing country with so much diversity 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, it’s very diverse – we had a great time there!
Annie Berger
Never saw these lizards when we were in Sri Lanka, unfortunately.
Sarah Wilkie
I’m surprised – we’ve seen them all over the place!
Teresa
Wow, scary. Looks like coming from Jurassic Park.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, they do look a bit prehistoric!
Diana
Wow, those are some serious talons!
Sarah Wilkie
Aren’t they just?!
Leanne Cole
They look pretty scary, great photos Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
They are harmless but the size is rather disconcerting! Thanks Leanne 😀
the eternal traveller
Your first photo is amazing. We have them here too, and they’re known as goannas. I’m not fond of them, they’re so large.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much 😊 I hadn’t realised that what you refer to as goannas were the same animal as monitor lizards.
Egídio
They look pre-historic. Love these shots.
Sarah Wilkie
They do, don’t they? They could probably quite easily pass as dinosaurs!
margaret21
Wonderful. Especially your header shot.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 😊 See replies below re serendipity!
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
The header one is particularly fabulous! Looks very relaxed.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I guess he was pretty chilled (in both senses ofthat word!)
Marie
That first guy is so handsome! It’s a wonderful photo!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😊 Pure serendipity – I spotted him as we were driving past on a track, called to our driver to stop and reverse, and took this from the car!
Anne Sandler
Great profile picture Sarah. He knew how to pose!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Anne 😃 Yes he posed beautifully and didn’t budge when we stopped the car for photos, but maybe that was because he hadn’t properly warmed up.
Monkey's Tale
Monitor Lizards are such an interesting creature. They’re so large that I feel like I’m supposed to be afraid, and probably was when I saw my first one. Hope you’re enjoying Sri Lanka. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
I know what you mean Maggie, they can be a bit daunting! Yes, having a great time here thanks, but only a few days left 🙁
Rose
Wow the Land Monitor Lizards are impressively large.
Sarah Wilkie
They are indeed Rose!
Sue
impressive lizard, but not as good as the one you showed the other day!
Sarah Wilkie
Not as handsome certainly, but their sheer size makes them hard to ignore!
Sue
Well, that’s true!