I was delighted to come across this monitor lizard on my morning walk. I had been told by family that they are all over the place here, yet this was my first sighting. It was initially soaking up some sun on an exposed part of a large limestone wall.

I first saw the yellow and black banding on its tail through some leaves and branches as I approached. When I scrambled to get my phone out, it slowly began climbing the wall into the security of the vegetation above.

I’m generally unfamiliar with most monitor species. I had to do a quick Google search to figure out how many different species we have in the Philippines. Based on its appearance and my location, I landed on varanus cumingi (yellow-headed water monitor).

I would say it’s length was about 30-36 inches from its head to the tip of its tail.

Beautiful find!