IUCN Conservation Status –
Least Concern
Extinct In The Wild
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Varanidae
Paignton Zoo is home to one male mangrove monitor lizard, named Pierre. You can find Pierre in his home in Crocodile Swamp.
Our mangrove monitor is our oldest lizard here at Paignton Zoo. He came to us in 2011 from Paris, having hatched from an egg as a result of a successful breeding in Prague in 2005.
Mangrove monitor lizards are native to coastal regions and islands across northern Australia, New Guinea, and parts of Southeast Asia, often inhabiting mangrove forests, hence their name.
Interesting facts!
- Mangrove monitors are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes! Their tails are laterally compressed, helping them navigate aquatic environments with ease.
- They have a diverse diet, including insects, crabs, small mammals, birds, fish, and even carrion. Their adaptability as hunters makes them formidable predators.
- Their tail is not only a powerful swimming tool but also helps with balance when climbing trees. Mangrove monitors are semi-arboreal, meaning they spend time both in trees and on the ground.
- Monitors, including mangrove monitors, are known for their intelligence. They can solve simple problems and have been observed in the wild using tools, such as rocks, to crack open shells.
Conservation
The mangrove monitor lizard is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Their wide distribution across islands and coastal areas in Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and the Pacific Islands helps maintain a relatively stable population.