Monitor Lizards

[overherebc]

[rodcourt49]

..great photo!

[jaapfries]

Incredible shot, but what's the story going with this ? ?

Looks like a parking-lot ?

What City ?

C'mon; don't keep us in suspense . . . . .

[overherebc]

Incredible shot, but what's the story going with this ? ?

Looks like a parking-lot ?

What City ?

C'mon; don't keep us in suspense . . . . .

Sorry to say I didn't take the shot myself, it was one of a series of animals in Thailand during flooding, dogs on tin roofs, spirit houses etc half a metre above the water level. It just struck me as a very unusual photograph and wanted others to enjoy it.

more from the same e-mail

[Daffy D]

Nice, thanks for sharing

[overherebc]

Nice, thanks for sharing

Final ones from same source

[marstons]

anybody know if they bite , dog chased this into the house the other day, over a metre long. i gave up trying to get it and local guy did it. wife bless her screamed and shouted big snake under tv. but it was moniter lizard.

[overherebc]

anybody know if they bite , dog chased this into the house the other day, over a metre long. i gave up trying to get it and local guy did it. wife bless her screamed and shouted big snake under tv. but it was moniter lizard.

My understanding is that they don't carry poison, as a snake does, but their food is generally carrion and small animals, again alive or dead and similar to a lot of the dead beat ex-pats in pattaya never brush their teeth so can cause a very bad infection from the bite.

Prepared to be proved wrong

PS. Never been bitten by one or by an Ex-pat, a few Thai women have managed it though

[ningawomba]

Apparently most lizards do have a very mild venom , it has recently been discovered , very mild but it might stop a wound healing up for a few days if you get bitten .

[thenoilif]

Monitor Lizards or as the Thai call them niia (also not a nice word to call someone) are not venomous but as someone already mentioned have very bacteria laden mouths and teeth. A bite can lead to serious, life threatening infections if not treated properly.