Suzi Eszterhas / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) pair flicking tongues, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

David Fleetham / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the world's largest lizard. Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), with sailing-boat in background. Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) drooling, the lizard's saliva is high in bacteria and bites quickly become infected, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) approaching, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) using tongue to smell, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Chien Lee / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) in grass, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Tim Laman / Mangrove / Blue-tailed Monitor (Varanus doreanus)female. Paul Oliver weighs the monitor lizard. Foja Mountains, Papua, Indonesia, 2008. (taken during Conservation International Rapid Assessment Progra...

Georgette Douwma / Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) on beach, Rinca, Komodo National Park, Indonesia, October

Rod Williams / Green / Emerald Tree Monitor (Varanus prasinus) head portrait climbing tree trunk. Captive, from Papua New Guinea, Indonesia

Georgette Douwma / Asian water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) Malaysia. Sipidan.

Georgette Douwma / Asian water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) climbing tree, Kinabatangan flood plain, Sabah, Malaysia

Tui De Roy / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) large male walking towards camera, Komodo National Park, Komodo Island, Indonesia

Mark Jones / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) large male testing ground for scent with specialized forked tongue, Komodo National Park, Komodo Island, Indonesia

Michael Pitts / Mertens water monitor swimming {Varanus mertensi} Litchfield NP Australia

Jason Venus / Desert monitor {Varanus griseus} Sahara desert

Michael Pitts / Komodo dragon {Varanus komodoensis} hatching from egg, Komodo Island, Indonesia.

Tony Heald / Southern savanna (Rock) monitor {Varanus albigularis} panting Etosha NP, Namibia

Steven David Miller / Perentie {Varanus giganteus} Northern Territory, Australia, Alice Springs Reptile Park - largest Australian monitor lizard

Suzi Eszterhas / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis), Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Suzi Eszterhas / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis), Komodo National Park, Indonesia

David Fleetham / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) on beach. Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Perentie (Varanus giganteus) walking across sand, Australia.

David Fleetham / Perentie (Varanus giganteus)walking across sand, Australia.

David Fleetham / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the world's largest lizard. Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) at the coast, flicking its tongue. Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) flicking its tongue. Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

David Fleetham / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) flicking its tongue on the coast of Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia. September 2008.

Naskrecki & Guyton / Nile monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) converging on last remaining puddle of water in the Mussicadzi River to hunt Sharpooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Baboons (Papio sp.) and a busbuck (Tragela...

Naskrecki & Guyton / Nile monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) converging on last remaining puddle of water in the Mussicadzi River to hunt Sharpooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Baboons (Papio sp.), a warthog (Phacochoer...

Naskrecki & Guyton / Nile monitor lizards (Varanus niloticus) hunting giant Sharpooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in dried up puddle of the Mussicadzi River, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

Ingo Arndt / Gould's monitor / goanna (Varanus gouldii) warming up on road, Northern Territory, Kakadu National Park, Australia, December

Ingo Arndt / Gould's monitor / goanna (Varanus gouldii) warming up on road, Northern Territory, Kakadu National Park, Australia, December

Francois Savigny / Nile monitor crossing stream {Varanus niloticus} Lake Manyara NP, Tanzania, Africa

Ingo Arndt / Bengal monitor {Varanus bengalensis} Sri Lanka

Juergen & Christine Sohns / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) in defensive posture, Singapore Zoo, Singapore

Richard Du Toit / Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) in burrow flicking tongue, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Thomas Marent / Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus) juvenile with Monitor Lizard (Varanus sp) on tree above water, Arusha National Park, Tanzania

Steve O. Taylor (GHF) / Savannah monitor lizards (Varanus exanthematicus) fighting, Ngamba island, Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Steve O. Taylor (GHF) / Savannah monitor lizards (Varanus exanthematicus) fighting, Ngamba island, Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Piotr Naskrecki / Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) on tree, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

Roland Seitre / Spencer's monitor (Varanus spenceri) on Astrelba Downs, Bedourie, Queensland, Australia, August

Chien Lee / White-throated Monitor (Varanus albigularis) juvenile, Kruger National Park, South Africa

Chien Lee / Common Water Monitor (Varanus salvator), Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Borneo, Malaysia

Cyril Ruoso / Ornate Monitor (Varanus ornatus) lizard basking in middle of river, Bateke Plateau National Park, Gabon

Cyril Ruoso / Giant Monitor Lizard (Varanus giganteus) sensing with its tongue, Australia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) laying in the grass, vulnerable, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) using tongue to smell, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) basking at sunrise, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) group scavenging on a water buffalo carcass, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) group scavenging on a water buffalo carcass, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) portrait, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) portrait, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) resting on rock, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) eats the carcass of another dragon, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) pirate Megapodious bird nests to eat the eggs or to lay their own eggs, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) pirate Megapodious bird nests to eat the eggs or to lay their own eggs, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) walking in tall grass, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) regulating temperature by opening mouth, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) regulating temperature by opening mouth, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) at dusk looking for a sleeping den, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) adult in grass, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) adult portrait, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) in swamp, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) portrait showing large claws, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) yearling exploring camera bag, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) blending with habitat, side view, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) close-up showing forked tongue, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Cyril Ruoso / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) camouflaged amongst grasses, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Juan Carlos Munoz / Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) in forest clearing, Komodo Island, Indonesia

ZSSD / Mertens' Water Monitor (Varanus mertensi), Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Queensland, Australia

Michael Pitts / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) foot and claws detail, Komodo, Indonesia.

Michael Pitts / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) on beach with carcass of Ocean Sunfish, taken from a fisherman, Komodo, Indonesia.

Michael Pitts / Park ranger with Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) hatchlings taken from egg chamber 10 foot underground, being photographed, taken on location for TVNZ shoot 'Dragons of Komodo', Komodo Island, Ind...

Michael Pitts / Komodo dragon hatching (Varanus komodoensis) controlled conditions, Komodo, Indonesia

Michael Pitts / Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) on beach with Komodo Bay in background, Komodo, Indonesia.

Michael Pitts / Park ranger with Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) hatchlings taken from egg chamber 10 foot underground, taken on location for TVNZ shoot 'Dragons of Komodo', Komodo Island, Indonesia, June 2009

Juergen Freund / Monitor lizard (Varanus sp.) swimming in a Kalimantan river branch of the Sekonyer River in Tanjung Puting National Park, Indonesia

Juergen Freund / Juvenile Perentie monitor lizard (Varanus gigantus) South Australia, Australia

Juergen Freund / Juvenile Perentie monitor lizard (Varanus gigantus) walking through desert, South Australia, Australia

Juergen Freund / Juvenile Perentie monitor lizard (Varanus gigantus) on rocks in outback, South Australia, Australia

D. Parer & E. Parer-Cook / Lace Monitor Lizard (Varanus varius) foraging, Victoria, Australia

D. Parer & E. Parer-Cook / Lace Monitor Lizard (Varanus varius) foraging, Victoria, Australia

Roland Seitre / Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) on beach, Indonesia

Axel Gomille / Water monitor (Varanus salvator), foraging, flicking tongue, Thailand

Axel Gomille / Water monitor (Varanus salvator), foraging, Thailand

Axel Gomille / Water monitor (Varanus salvator), portrait, Thailand

Axel Gomille / Water monitor (Varanus salvator), foraging, flicking tongue, Thailand

Axel Gomille / Water monitor (Varanus salvator), portrait, flicking tongue, Thailand

Axel Gomille / Water monitor (Varanus salvator), foraging, flicking tongue, Thailand

Axel Gomille / Water monitor (Varanus salvator), portrait, flicking tongue, Thailand

Axel Gomille / Water monitor (Varanus salvator), foraging, flicking tongue, Thailand

Denis-Huot / Nile monitor lizard (Varanus niloticus) Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya

Denis-Huot / Steppe lizard (Varanus exanthematicus) Moremi game reserve, Botswana

Jabruson / Forest Monitor Lizard (Varanus ornatus) bushmeat, being preparated for cooking, Gamba town, Gabon, February 2009

Rod Williams / Blue Tree Monitor (Varanus macraei) captive from Batanta Island, Indonesia. Blue form discovered in 2001