The spotted tree monitor is a small-to-medium sized, arboreal monitor lizard characterized by a dark, spotted pattern on its back and a prehensile tail. These agile, diurnal lizards are excellent climbers, using their sharp claws and prehensile tails to navigate trees and hunt for insects and small prey. There are different species referred to as "spotted tree monitors," but the Timor monitor (Varanus timorensis) and the blue-spotted monitor (Varanus macraei) are common examples, differing in their specific colorations and origins.