History Main / MaliciousMonitorLizard

* In OceanicMythology, Hi'iaka is tasked with bringing a young chief named Lohi'ahu to her sister, Pele (after the latter began to miss him after they hooked up at a party weeks before). Along the way, they face many adventures. In particular, Hi'iaka has to fight off giant monitor lizards with ''mana'' contained in her skirt. (Unfortunately for Hi'iaka, and [[TakenForGranite more unfortunately for her friend Hopoe]], this delays them quite a bit, and Pele gets jealous.)

Komodo dragons are generally portrayed as powerful, dangerous predators; fitting with their intimidating appearance and size. "Lesser" monitors, conversely, are often portrayed as greedy, thieving slimeballs, with a particular taste for eggs. Obviously this adds to their negative portrayal, since eggs are effectively other animals' kids-to-be.

* ''WesternAnimation/FernGullyTheLastRainforest'' features a purple monitor lizard that sings an entire musical number about wanting to eat one of the protagonists. However, when not hungry, he turns out to be a pretty nice guy.

* Septarians from ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' are identified as lizards and bear long jaws most similar to those of varanids. While not all are evil a few have been prominent villains, most notably Toffee.

** Kenge was a rock monitor, who was aggressive, powerful and malicious. And who really, ''really'' disliked being called little.

In fiction, monitors will usually be a generic kind. If a real-life species gets chose, it usually be the Komodo dragon; this is partially because Komodos are the largest kind of monitor and look rather intimidating and partly because it's [[SmallTaxonomyPools the only species audiences will be familiar with]]. Even so, Komodo dragons are a SeldomSeenSpecies especially compared to geckos, chameleons, iguanas, and even frilled lizards.

In fiction, monitors will usually be a generic kind. The most popular choice for a real-life species of monitor are Komodo dragons; this is partially because Komodos are the largest kind of monitor and look rather intimidating and partly because it's [[SmallTaxonomyPools the only species audiences will be familiar with]]. But even so, Komodo dragons are a SeldomSeenSpecies compared to geckos, chameleons, iguanas, and even frilled lizards.

In fiction, monitors will usually be a generic kind. The most popular choice for a real-life species of monitor are Komodo dragons; this is partially because Komodos are the largest kind of monitor and look rather intimidating and partly because it's [[SmallTaxonomyPools the only species audiences will be familiar with]]. But even so, Komodo dragons still belong in the SeldomSeenSpecies category like with most real-life monitors.

In fiction, monitors will usually be a generic kind, and specific ones from real-life are a SeldomSeenSpecies. The most popular choice for a real-life monitor are Komodo dragons; this is partially because Komodos are the largest kind of monitor and look rather intimidating and partly because it's [[SmallTaxonomyPools the only species audiences will be familiar with]].

Fictional monitors are usually Komodo dragons; this is partially because Komodos are the largest kind of monitor and look rather intimidating and partly because it's [[SmallTaxonomyPools the only species audiences will be familiar with]]. In spite of this, Komodo dragons tend to be a SeldomSeenSpecies, and most monitors in fiction are usually a generic "lesser" monitor.

Fictional monitors are usually Komodo dragons; this is partially because Komodos are the largest kind of monitor and look rather intimidating and partly because it's [[SmallTaxonomyPools the only species audiences will be familiar with]].

* ''WesternAnimation/GeorgeAndMartha'' has a recurring character who is Komodo dragon. He is not malicious, but definitely creepy.

* Whether by accident or design, many reconstructions of theropod dinosaurs have monitor lizard-like traits; in particular, [[RaptorAttack featherless renditions of dromaeosaurs]] look like bipedal komodos.

* ''WesternAnimation/GeorgeAndMartha'' has a recurring Komodo dragon guy. He is not malicious, but definitely creepy.

* Septarians from ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' are identified as lizards and bear long jaws most similar to those of varanids. While not all are evil a few have been promenient villains, most notably Toffee.

* ''Anime/AggressiveRetsuko'': Tsubone/Scatherine, an anthropomorphic Komodo dragon, is a mean-spirited, sometimes downright sadistic senior secretary who acts like a MeanBoss to the protagonist.

Like [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]] only dwelling on land, monitor lizards are the lizards most likely to be cast as antagonists in animal fiction. They are also common foes in jungle settings.

The smaller distant cousins of [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]], monitor lizards are the lizards most likely to be cast as antagonists in animal fiction. They are also common foes in jungle settings.

* ''Anime/AggressiveRetsuko'': Tsubone/Scatherine, an anthropomorphic komodo dragon, is a mean-spirited, sometimes downright sadistic senior secretary who acts like a MeanBoss to the protagonist.

** Kenge was a monitor lizard , who was aggressive, powerful and malicious. And who really, ''really'' disliked being called little.
** Ora is a komodo dragon who lives on the island the Lion Guard visits in the episode "Dragon Island". He's portrayed as a sadistic and ravenous predator, and at the end of the episode he makes an alliance with the evil leopard Makucha.

* The last giant reptilian predator in the fossil record, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalania Megalania]], which went extinct as recently as 40,000 years ago, was estimated to be as big as 15 feet long, and weighing over 700 pounds. Also, it was believed to be venomous...

The smaller cousins of [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodiles]], monitor lizards are the lizards most likely to be cast as antagonists in animal fiction. They are also common foes in jungle settings.

What also doesn't help their reputation is their diet, as they're often seen as [[ScavengersAreScum scavengers]] due to the amount of carrion they eat. In fact, for a long period of time it was assumed that this reason why they had such nasty bites, where the deadly bacteria they picked up from carrion was responsible for taking down prey. However, later studies conducted in the mid-to-late 2000s debunked this theory, with it instead being revealed that monitors are among the few lizard species with venomous bite. The venom further adds to their villainous reputation, because PoisonIsEvil.

Subtrope of ReptilesAreAbhorrent.Contrast LovableLizard, for more benign lizards. See also SnakesAreSinister and NeverSmileAtACrocodile for other villainous reptiles.

* The last giant reptilian predator in the fossil record, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalania Megalania]], which went extinct as recently as 40,000 years ago, estimated to be as big as 15 feet long, and weighing over 700 pounds. Also, it was believed to be venomous...

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