{"id":4476,"date":"2014-10-08T04:46:08","date_gmt":"2014-10-08T04:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/staging\/vet\/?p=4476"},"modified":"2020-08-30T21:49:13","modified_gmt":"2020-08-31T02:49:13","slug":"basic-information-for-savannah-monitor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/basic-information-for-savannah-monitor\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic Information Sheet: Savannah Monitor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Savannah Monitor (Varanus exanthematicus<\/em>)<\/h1>\n
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Juvenile savannah monitor. Photo from General Exotics.<\/small><\/p><\/div>\n

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Natural history<\/h2>\n

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The Savannah monitor is native to the savannahs of eastern and southern Africa. In the wild these monitors are scavengers covering large distances as they search for small prey items.<\/p>\n

Savannah monitors in the pet trade are either wild-caught or captive-raised.
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Taxonomy<\/h2>\n

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\nClass<\/strong>: Reptilia<\/em><\/p>\n

Order<\/strong>: Squamata<\/em><\/p>\n

Family<\/strong>: Varanidae<\/em>– monitors<\/p>\n

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Color and size<\/h2>\n

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\nSavannah monitors are tan to gray with a lighter pattern on the back, sides, and anterior tail.<\/p>\n

Adult size can be quite variable. Some individuals reach 2.5 ft (0.8 m) while others exceed 4.5 ft (1.4 m) and can even reach 6 ft (1.8 m) or more.
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Diet<\/h2>\n

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\nMuch controversy surrounds the feeding of Savannah and other grassland monitors in captivity, and clients often bring questions about appropriate foods for their pet.<\/p>\n