The land monitor is widely distributed throughout the country from sea level to mid hills up to about 500m a.s.l. It is diurnal and usually active after having got its body temperature up by basking in the morning. It spends the night in tree holes, crevices, and even in the ceilings of the houses. Juveniles mainly feed on insects while adults prey on frogs, small mammals (rats, squirrels), snails, insects, grubs, crabs, eggs, etc. Its flesh is a delicacy among the indigenous Vedda people. Also, other jungle villagers hunt these lizards for their flesh which is believed to be easy to digest and hence good for pregnant women and invalids. Fighting among males during breeding season takes place in a ‘bipedal fashion’ can be occurred and it is believed that they probably breed all the year round and lay 10-30 eggs in a burrow in the ground, in termite mounds, or inside decaying logs.