Worth the Wait

A Mertens' water monitor hatched in a behind-the-scenes area of Australia: Wild Extremes on October 14. The baby lizard will continue to be cared for off-exhibit until it is an adult.

"It's only about three weeks after fertilization that the eggs are laid, but Mertens' water monitors have an unusually long incubation time, so patience and monitoring were key," explains Assistant Curator Jessica Nelson.

These lizards, named for herpetologist Robert Mertens, are endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species. Three hatched at the Aquarium in 2014 and all three are still here. Typically, one of them can be seen in Australia: Wild Extremes at any given time.

In this species, hatchlings and juveniles look like smaller versions of adults, with a similar shape—including a long, powerful tail that helps propel them through water—and neutral grayish brown coloring. According to Jessica, the Aquarium's newest hatchling weighed 26.8 grams (or about .06 pounds) when it first emerged. Adults can grow to more than 4 pounds.

In their natural habitat, these aquatic lizards can be found in coastal areas and inland creeks, lagoons and waterways in the northern part of Australia. They are adept hunters in water and on land, feeding on fish, crustaceans and amphibians, as well as small mammals, birds, eggs and insects.