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Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

Reptile · family Varanidae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Longest recorded life
14.6 years[3]

The Nile Monitor is a reptile in the family Varanidae[4]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and in the United States it is an introduced species in Florida[4][2][5].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Nile Monitor a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. It is on CITES Appendix II, which sets controls on international trade[7]. In Florida, NatureServe gives it a state rank of SNA, which is shown in the state rank table[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
CITES (international trade)[7] Appendix II
USGS nonindigenous aquatic species[9] Listed as exotic in parts of the US

Where Nile Monitor lives

NatureServe lists the Nile Monitor as introduced, not native, in Florida[5]. USGS also lists it as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States[9]. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are Florida, Virginia, Texas, Ohio and Arizona[10]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many animals live there[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (1 states)
StateRankMeaning
FloridaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe notes that in one area of Florida, local canal systems offer suitable habitat that the species occupies[11].

Lifespan

The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge comes from an animal in captivity[3]. That is a record and not a typical lifespan[3]. AnAge lists female sexual maturity at 1,278 days[12].

Trait Value
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 14.6 years (captivity)
Female maturity[12] 1,278 days (about 3.5 years)

When to look for it

GBIF observation records in the United States are highest in May, June and July[13]. These records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[13].

January: 99 recordsJanFebruary: 72 recordsFebMarch: 130 recordsMarApril: 183 recordsAprMay: 324 recordsMayJune: 250 recordsJunJuly: 286 recordsJulAugust: 200 recordsAugSeptember: 184 recordsSepOctober: 172 recordsOctNovember: 124 recordsNovDecember: 89 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[13].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January99
February72
March130
April183
May324
June250
July286
August200
September184
October172
November124
December89

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Arizona[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Nile Monitor endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Nile Monitor live in the United States?
NatureServe lists it as introduced, not native, in Florida[5]. GBIF records are most numerous in Florida, Virginia, Texas, Ohio and Arizona, but they follow observer effort[10].
How long does a Nile Monitor live?
The longest recorded lifespan in AnAge comes from an animal in captivity[3]. This is a record, not a typical lifespan[3].
When are Nile Monitors reported most often?
GBIF records in the United States are highest in May, June and July[13]. They reflect when people look and report[13].

Facts and sources

  1. Nile Monitor is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Nile Monitor: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 14.6 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) is a reptile in the family Varanidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Nile Monitor as introduced (not native) in: Florida. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix II (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Nile Monitor (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. USGS lists Nile Monitor as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States (exotic). USGS NAS
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Nile Monitor: Florida, Virginia, Texas, Ohio, Arizona. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. NatureServe notes on habitat for Nile Monitor. NatureServe Explorer
  12. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,278 days (about 3.5 years). AnAge
  13. GBIF observation records of Nile Monitor in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.