# @science on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DH6jfH7POR-
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/61248028-science-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/29585bdb28.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-01T19:03:31.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Science 🧬 (@science) — https://gondola.cc/science

## Caption

🦎 The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is one of the world's largest lizards, reaching up to 3 meters in length. Native to South and Southeast Asia, these semi-aquatic reptiles inhabit tropical forests, swamps, and agricultural areas near water bodies. They're excellent swimmers with powerful limbs, sharp claws, and a muscular tail.⁠
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Opportunistic carnivores, they consume fish, crustaceans, birds, small mammals, and carrion. They possess a keen sense of smell, using their forked tongue to detect prey.⁠
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Though adaptable to human-altered landscapes, habitat destruction and hunting for their meat and skin threaten populations in some regions.⁠
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📹️ courtesy of: jayprehistoricpets⁠
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#asianwatermonitor #blackdragon #lizard #biology #science

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 2,161
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- **Comments:** 15

## Tags

science, lizard, blackdragon, asianwatermonitor, biology

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