Monitor lizard with tongue extended on pavement
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Questions about the subject, usage, technology & more
Why do monitor lizards constantly flick their forked tongue?
Monitor lizards use their deeply forked tongue as a sensory organ. By flicking it, they collect scent particles from the air and transfer them to the Jacobson's organ on the roof of their mouth, which processes chemical signals. This allows them to detect prey, track conspecifics, and navigate their environment with remarkable precision, even in urban settings like Bangkok's Lumphini Park.
How can this photo be used?
This stock photo is available on Kataloop for commercial use. Example applications include travel magazines focused on Asia or urban ecology, educational materials on reptiles or herpetology, campaigns around biodiversity and species conservation, as well as digital media, apps or social channels covering wildlife and nature. The resolution of over 49 megapixels also supports large-format print production.
What mood does this photo convey?
The image conveys objective fascination: the monitor lizard's direct sideward gaze and fully extended forked tongue create immediate attention. The sunlit asphalt surface amplifies the contrast between an urban setting and raw wildlife presence. The image feels close, unmediated and documentary, without dramatization.
What equipment was used to capture this photo?
This stock photo (ID 3375369) was captured with the Sony ILCE-1, a full-frame camera with 50.1 megapixels delivering a resolution of 8640 x 5760 pixels. The razor-sharp scale detail at a safe distance was made possible by the Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS, which delivers outstanding sharpness even at maximum focal length for wildlife photography.
What visual style or trend does this photo represent?
The image reflects two current trends: first, the growing focus on urban biodiversity and wildlife in cities, a topic gaining traction in science, media and conservation. Second, it mirrors the demand for authentic, unretouched nature photography that deliberately avoids staging and instead captures raw, unfiltered reality.
Lumphini Park is Bangkok's most famous green retreat in the heart of the city. Spanning roughly 57 hectares, it offers lawns, ponds and shaded paths where water monitors (Varanus salvator) roam freely, just as seen in this photo. These reptiles are a signature feature of the park and draw wildlife photographers and nature enthusiasts from around the world. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best chances for close encounters.
Bangkok is one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant metropolises, combining a bustling street culture, stunning temple architecture, a dramatic skyline and remarkable urban biodiversity. Visitors experience the contrast between megacity and nature up close: just steps from the Silom financial district, water monitors roam paved paths. As a travel, nature and culture destination, Bangkok provides uniquely compelling visual content.

