Extreme carnivores, water monitors will eat just about any other animal and escaping one is no mean feat. Powerful leg muscles bestow a quick turn of speed for their size. Aquatic prey fare no better, as water monitors can pursue them underwater for 30 minutes or more. When the hunter becomes the hunted, water monitors will skillfully climb trees to escape, jumping from branch to branch, until they reach the safety of water. In fact, this common south Asian monitor lizard relies on water and is capable of crossing large bodies.