monitor

Any of various lizards found in Africa, South Asia, and Australasia. Monitors are generally large and carnivorous, with well-developed legs and claws and a long powerful tail that can be swung in defence. (Family Varanidae.)

Monitors include the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the largest of all lizards, and also the slimmer Salvador's monitor (V. salvadorii), which may reach 2.5 m/8 ft. Several other monitors, such as the lace monitor (V. varius), the perentie (V. giganteus) of Australia, and the Nile monitor (V. niloticus) of Africa, are up to 2 m/6 ft long.