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What the sources say

Asian Water MonitorVaranus salvator

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Asian Water Monitor profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 48 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Ecological Risk Screening Summary: Common Water Monitor (Varanus salvator). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The page saysA semi-aquatic lizard that can reach 2.5 m
The source saysA very large lizard that may reach a total length of 2.5 m (exceeding 8 ft)Note: tagline; scent and diet parts are claimed separately
The page saysprey on any vertebrate it can overpower
The source sayspreying upon invertebrates, carrion, human corpses and feces, and any vertebrate (including fish) it can overpowerNote: tagline
The page saysmay reach a total length of 2.5 m, which is more than 8 ft
The source saysA very large lizard that may reach a total length of 2.5 m (exceeding 8 ft)
The page sayssemi-aquatic
The source saysThis species is semi-aquatic and opportunistic
The page saysSouthern and Southeast Asia, near beaches, mangrove swamps, lakes, streams and rivers
The source saysThis diurnal species prefers habitats in the vicinity of water which include beaches, mangrove swamps, peat swamps, lakes, streams and riversNote: stats.habitat
The page saysInsects, crabs, fish, freshwater turtles, birds and their eggs, rats, other lizards and carrion
The source saysThe diet includes invertebrates (e.g. insects), fish, crabs, freshwater turtles, birds and their eggs, crocodiles, sea turtles, lizards, rats, as well as carrionNote: stats.diet
The page saysFollows scent trails and can smell a rotten carcass from up to 100 m away
The source saysIndividuals are able to follow a scent trail and scent a rotten carcass up to 100 m away.Note: stats.superpower
The page sayscan follow a scent trail and pick up a rotten carcass from up to 100 m away, a U.S. government risk summary reports
The source saysIndividuals are able to follow a scent trail and scent a rotten carcass up to 100 m away.
The page saysMales are typically larger than females.
The source saysMales are typically larger than females.
The page saysliving across southern and Southeast Asia, from eastern India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh through Thailand and Malaysia to Indonesia and the Philippines
The source saysincluding eastern India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, southern China
The page saysthrough Thailand and Malaysia to Indonesia and the Philippines
The source saysPeninsular and Eastern Malaysia
The page saysIt prefers habitats near water: beaches, mangrove swamps, peat swamps, lakes, streams and rivers.
The source saysThis diurnal species prefers habitats in the vicinity of water which include beaches, mangrove swamps, peat swamps, lakes, streams and rivers
The page saysIt sleeps in burrows it digs itself and uses water and burrows to cool off in the heat of the day.
The source saysit overnights in self-constructed burrows and Treaeholt (1995a) noted that it uses water and burrows to lower body temperatures during the hottest periods of the day
The page saysInsects, crabs, fish, freshwater turtles, birds and their eggs, lizards and rats are on the menu
The source saysThe diet includes invertebrates (e.g. insects), fish, crabs, freshwater turtles, birds and their eggs, crocodiles, sea turtles, lizards, rats, as well as carrion
The page saysResearch has found that it will also scavenge food leftovers from residents and tourists.
The source saysPrevious research has indicated that V. salvator has an extremely broad diet and will scavenge food leftovers from residents and tourists
The page saysA clutch holds 5 to 30 eggs, and incubation lasts 171 to 327 days.
The source saysClutches comprise 5 to 30 eggs, and incubation lasts 171 to 327 days
The page saysHatchlings are 250 to 390 mm long.
The source saysHatchlings are 250- 390 mm long
The page saysIn captivity the average lifespan is 10.6 years.
The source saysin captivity V. salvator have an average lifespan of 10.6 years
The page saysIt is hunted mainly for its skin, used in the leather trade, as well as for its meat and its fat, used in traditional medicine.
The source saysIt is mainly hunted because its skin is used in the leather trade, its meat is eaten, and its fat is used in traditional medicine.
The page saysA 1999 estimate put the trade at 1.5 million skins a year, though the skin trade has decreased slightly since the 1990s.
The source saysAn estimated 1.5 million skins are traded annually (Herrmann 1999), although the skin trade has decreased slightly since the 1990s
The page saysThey prey on invertebrates and on any vertebrate they can overpower, fish included. Carrion is on the menu too.
The source sayspreying upon invertebrates, carrion, human corpses and feces, and any vertebrate (including fish) it can overpowerNote: FAQ
The page saysalong with crocodiles, sea turtles and carrion
The source sayscrocodiles, sea turtles, lizards, rats, as well as carrion
The page saysThe species is one of the most heavily exploited monitor lizards in the world.
The source saysThis species is one of the most heavily-exploited varanid lizards globally
The page saysthat can reach 2.5 m
The source saysmay reach a total length of 2.5 mNote: tagline figure
The page saysscent a rotten carcass up to 100 m away
The source saysIndividuals are able to follow a scent trail and scent a rotten carcass up to 100 m away.Note: tagline
The page saysIt is extremely widespread
The source saysThis species is extremely widespread throughout southern and Southeast Asia
The page saysAn extremely broad diet
The source saysV. salvator has an extremely broad dietNote: blockquote lead

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database

Varanus salvator. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database.

The page saysThe AnAge database gives an average adult weight of 4,345 g.
The source saysAdult weight 4,345 gNote: AnAge lists it under 'Life history traits (averages)'
The page saysThe AnAge database records 15.7 years as its maximum longevity, in captivity.
The source saysMaximum longevity 15.7 years (captivity)
The page saysweightKg: 4.3
The source saysAdult weight 4,345 gNote: battleStats.weightKg, AnAge average adult weight rounded (#1231); Light class either way: Samosir et al. 2025 (Riau, n=614 mature) give a mean of 4290.81 g

Source
03

Chetruengchai et al. 2022

Chetruengchai et al. (2022). Genome of Varanus salvator macromaculatus (Asian Water Monitor) Reveals Adaptations in the Blood Coagulation and Innate Immune System. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

The page saysgenes for vomeronasal type 2 receptors, a family tied to the response to pheromones
The source saysthe gene family encoding vomeronasal type 2 receptors (V2Rs) played a significant role in response to pheromones
The page saysthe largest monitor in Southeast Asia and the second largest lizard globally, after the Komodo dragon
The source saysthe largest monitor in Southeast Asia and the second largest lizard globally after the Komodo dragon
The page saysThe team that sequenced the water monitor's genome puts it second among lizards worldwide.
The source saysthe second largest lizard globally after the Komodo dragonNote: FAQ
The page saysgenes for vomeronasal type 2 receptors, a family tied to the response to pheromones (chemical signals that animals give off), came out as significant in the analysis
The source saysthe gene family encoding vomeronasal type 2 receptors (V2Rs) played a significant role in response to pheromones
The page saysSoutheast Asia's Biggest Monitor
The source saysthe largest monitor in Southeast AsiaNote: heading
The page saysNo, the Komodo dragon is.
The source saysthe second largest lizard globally after the Komodo dragonNote: FAQ
The page saysWhen its genome was compared with five other reptiles, 234 gene families were specific to the water monitor.
The source saysA total of 234 out of 7,861gene families are specific to V. salvatorNote: six genomes compared: V. salvator, V. komodoensis, S. crocodilurus, D. gracilis, A. carolinensis, P. vitticeps

Source
04

Gleeson & Bennett 1982

Gleeson & Bennett (1982). Acid-Base Imbalance in Lizards During Activity and Recovery. Journal of Experimental Biology.

The page saysA water monitor ran for 45 minutes at a pace that needed 85% of its maximum oxygen use.
The source saysVaranus salvator was exercised 45 min at an intensity which required 85% of its VO2 max.
The page saysFor the first 10 minutes it also drew on supplementary anaerobic metabolism
The source saysVaranus salvator was exercised 45 min at an intensity which required 85% of its VO2 max. V. salvator utilized supplementary anaerobic metabolism during the first 10 min of this sustainable exercise, as evidenced by a 16 mmol/l increase in [L-]a.
The page saysHalf of that lactate was cleared by the end, and its blood pH was back to resting levels.
The source saysOne half of the accumulated lactate was removed from the blood during the remainder of the 45 min exercise period, while blood pH returned to resting levels.
The page saysall three lizard species tested (the water monitor, another monitor and an iguana) were exhausted after 5 to 10 minutes
The source sayshigh intensity exercise led to exhaustion after 5 to 10 min in all three species
The page saysResearchers put lizards on a treadmill
The source saysThe effects of treadmill exercise on oxygen consumption (V02), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), arterial blood lactate concentration ([L-]a), arterial blood pH and arterial gas tensions (PaO2 and PaCO2) were measured in 3 species of lizards (Varanus salvator, V. exanthematicus, Iguana iguana)
The page saysshown by a 16 mmol/l rise in blood lactate
The source saysutilized supplementary anaerobic metabolism during the first 10 min of this sustainable exercise, as evidenced by a 16 mmol/l increase in [L-]a
The page says(the water monitor, another monitor and an iguana)
The source says3 species of lizards (Varanus salvator, V. exanthematicus, Iguana iguana)Note: V. exanthematicus is a monitor (Varanus), the savannah monitor
The page saysA Pace It Can Hold
The source saysduring the first 10 min of this sustainable exerciseNote: heading
The page saysOn a treadmill a water monitor kept up a pace that needed 85% of its maximum oxygen use for 45 minutes
The source saysVaranus salvator was exercised 45 min at an intensity which required 85% of its VO2 max.Note: vibe.reason

Source
05

Quah et al. 2021

Quah et al. (2021). Varanus salvator. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T178214A113138439.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus; category read through GBIF's copy of the Red List
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: category via GBIF; current assessment 2021

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.