White-throated monitors (Varanus albigularis) are moderate- to large-sized lizards belonging to the genus Varanus within the family Varanidae. Varanus is derived from the Arabic waran, which literally means monitor lizard and probably refers specifically to the Nile monitors seen inhabiting certain areas of Egypt.
The name “monitor” is believed to originate from an ancient superstitious belief that these lizards would give a warning when crocodiles were nearby, perhaps because Nile monitors are often seen about crocodile nests foraging for crocodile eggs. Additionally, many monitors, including Nile monitors, can assume a bipedal posture on occasion, allowing the animals to “monitor” their immediate environment.
However, to the best of my knowledge, this has never been observed with white-throated monitors. These animals are often called leguaan in Afrikaans (oddly enough, a name believed to be derived from “iguana”), and they may be the closest relatives of snakes among living lizards.
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