Nile monitors are native to Africa south of the Sahara. They are one of the largest of all monitors. Most average between 6 and 7 feet. They can weigh in excess of 50 lbs. In the wild, they can be observed basking in the morning hours on river and pond banks, reaching body temperatures in excess of 100° Fahrenheit. They hunt for small vertebrates and invertebrates in the water and on the land. They are also known to consume carrion and are notorious for raiding crocodile nests in search of their eggs.