The water monitor Varanus salvator is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae. They are large lizards growing up to 3 meters (9.8 ft) in length, but most adults are 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) long at most, and come second in size only to the Komodo dragon. Their body is muscular with a long powerful tail. Water monitors are perhaps the most ubiquitous monitor lizards in Asia, and range from Sri Lanka, India, Indochina, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. They live in tropical forested areas.

Water monitors are very opportunistic in their feeding, eating small mammals, birds, fish, insects and carrion.