Observe and photograph a species in its natural habitat
Learn where and when to observe a species in the wild, how to recognize it in the field, and what habitats it lives in. Get photography tips adapted to its behavior and capture stunning images without disturbing the animal. For full details, open the complete profile in the WildlifePhotographer app.
Dumeril's monitor
Scientific name: Varanus dumerilii
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Family: VARANIDAE
Group: Reptiles
Shyness: Very shy
Safe distance: 10 m
Breeding season / Courtship: 01.05-31.07
Gestation: 200–250 jours
Births: 01.12-31.03
Habitat:
Humid forests and mangrove swamps
Description:
This semi-aquatic varanid lizard can reach 1.2 m in length, with a robust dark brown body marked by yellow crossbars. It inhabits humid forests and mangrove swamps of Southeast Asia, feeding mainly on crabs, molluscs and small vertebrates. During breeding, females dig burrows to lay clutches of 4–23 eggs.
Recommended lens:
>=300 mm
Photography tips:
Approach quietly along riverbanks or forest clearings, concealed behind vegetation. Shoot at dawn or dusk for raking light on its textured skin, using a fast shutter speed to freeze sudden movements as it hunts crabs.
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