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Young Water Monitor

Water monitor (Varanus salvator macromaculatus) - Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia

 

I had climbed up on the rocky banks surrounding a jungle stream and was clambering around a section that was too deep to wade through. I looked up and saw this, a young water monitor clinging to a tree overhanging the river. He had seen me before I saw him and was already awake and watching me, I snapped one photo and took a step back and he couldn't handle my presence anymore and flung himself into the dark water below to make his getaway. I also came across a water monitor sleeping in the water with just the tip of its nose protruding above the surface on a different occasion. After this one jumped in the water I waited around for about 10 minutes to see if it would emerge, I didn't see it again. It might have snuck past me or moved up or down river or potentially even still have been hiding underwater somewhere, I'm not sure how long a monitor like this could remain underwater for.

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Uploaded on January 4, 2014
Taken on July 20, 2013