The Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator), also known as the Common Water Monitor, is a large lizard native to South and Southwest Asia.
Water Monitors are one of the most common monitor lizards found throughout Asia, and range from Sri Lanka and India to Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, and various islands of Indonesia, living in areas close to water.
There are five subspecies of the genus Varanus salvator.

This is Varanus salvator salvator, the nominate subspecies, which is restricted to Sri Lanka.

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, 24 February 2004