The giant lizards were infact monitor lizards
Monitor lizards are among the world’s most iconic lizards. Not only are they noticeably large, they are also highly intelligent for reptiles. Studies have shown that some species can solve simple problems, recognise keepers, and even count to a degree!
They frequent sub-Saharan Africa’s waterways and floodplains, which provide ideal habitats for them.
Their bodies are muscular, with strong limbs and jaws, and sharp. For this reason, they are not your average lizard.
Male lizards battle it out for dominance
Cheryl came across two male monitor lizards caught in a furious showdown. Using their formidable size and strength, they wrestled it out on a paved surface. They were clearly visible to spectators as they gave of their outmost to overpower the opponent.
Cheryl filmed the wrestling match and the lizards put on quite a show, tumbling and turning over one another. They were not playing games!
At first glance their wrestling looked chaotic. However, their movements actually followed an ancient script and such ritualised combat is typical between males of the monitor lizard species.
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It was Goliath vs Goliath in this epic duel
At one point the lizards were standing up on their hind legs, with their torsos vertical and their forelimbs reaching out. In this posture they appeared almost kangaroo-like, balanced by their heavy tails pressed to the ground.
These big guys were far from being geckos. That is, there was nothing sweet, little or timid about them. The display of power they put on as they fought one another made them appear even more formidable.
Strength and stamina on display
Such combat between monitor lizards is most often seen between males during the breeding season. When two mature males meet under heightened hormonal drive, combat will determine which of the lizards is more dominant.
The objective is not usually to kill. Here, the lizards were merely battling it out to establish which of them was the ‘alpha’ lizard.
When male monitor lizards confront each other in such a manner, the stronger animal will attempt to force his rival to the ground or roll him onto his back. This is a position of vulnerability that signals defeat.
This is a bit like a heavyweight wrestling championship. The champion, in essence, is the ‘last man standing’.
Lessons from nature: ‘boys will be boys’
Across mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and even some insects, competition between males is a natural and widespread behaviour. Usually such confrontations are driven by access to mates and territory.
From an evolutionary perspective, this is explained by sexual selection, a concept introduced by Charles Darwin. In many species, females invest more energy in reproduction through gestation, egg production, or parental care. As a result, males often compete for the opportunity to mate, and dominant males tend to pass on their genes more successfully.
Monitor lizards are ancient survivors, with a lineage stretching back millions of years. Powerful, intelligent, and adaptable, they remain some of the most impressive reptiles in the modern world.