Fun Facts

Monitor lizards get their name from their habit of standing up on their two back legs and appearing to “monitor” the area. Male lace monitors stand on their back legs and wrestle to win a mate. The strongest male wins.

Monitor lizards are super smart. They can solve problems, count, plan hunts, remember things, and even learn from training.

Lace monitors come in two color types: normal phase, meaning dark skin with light spots, and Bell’s phase, meaning light skin with thick, dark stripes.

Even with their large size, lace monitors are expert climbers. Their long claws and tails help them grip and stay balanced in trees. They will often spend cooler months sheltering in tree hollows or logs.

Lace monitors are venomous. Their bite causes pain, swelling, and bleeding, and their backward-pointing teeth make it hard to break free.