| Southeast Asian Water Monitor | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Sauria/Lacertilia |
| Family: | Varanidae |
| Genus: | Varanus |
| Species: | V. salvator |
| Subspecies: | V. s. macromaculatus |
| Trinomial name | |
| Varanus salvator macromaculatus Deraniyagala, 1944 |
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The Southeast Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator macromaculatus) is found in mainland southeast Asia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, and smaller associated offshore islands. Its type locality is Thailand.[1]
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Local Thai people call it "Tua Hea" (ตัวเหี้ย) or "Tua Ngen Tua Tong" (ตัวเงินตัวทอง). The locals believe that they bring bad luck so they call them "Tua Hea", which literally translates to the bad guy.
They feed on mainly animals near river sources, such as fishes, frogs, snakes, crocodiles, turtles, dolphins, and sharks. They also prefer farmland animals on special occasions, such as hens, ducks, pigs, and cows.
V. s. macromaculatus resides on small river banks and running streams. There has been recent evidence that this species is exponentially expanding its range in the past decade.