Is That A Baby Crocodile Or A Baby Monitor Lizard? Here’s How You Tell Them Apart
A woman in Melaka thought she was bitten by a baby monitor lizard but it turned out to be a baby crocodile.


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Recently, a local woman in Melaka faced a jumpscare moment after a small baby crocodile bit her leg in her house on 1 October.
As reported by Malaysia Gazette, Faridah Abdul Ghani, 65, was shocked after her left leg was bitten by a small crocodile in her house at Kampung Balik Batu, Tanjung Bidara, Masjid Tanah at around 6 am.
At around 6 in the morning, I was stepping out of the house when I suddenly felt something biting my left leg.
Faridah Abdul Ghani, Victim
At first, I thought it was a monitor lizard, and I immediately called my son.
It was only then that we realized it was a crocodile, approximately 30 centimeters long.
Her son then trapped the little fella with a dishcover before contacting the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) for further assistance.

She further said that she’s seen crocodiles swimming in the waters of Tanjung Bidara before because her house is close to the sea. However, this is the first time a crocodile has made its way into the house.
The crocodile was belived to have strayed from its natural habitat and was handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) by the APM officers.
Ku sangka digigit biawak, rupanya anak buaya
— MYNEWSHUB (@mynewshub) October 1, 2023
Alor Gajah: "Mak cik baru melangkah keluar pintu rumah sebelum terkejut apabila terasa ada 'benda' menggigit kaki kiri."
Begitu kata Faridah Abd Ghani, 65, mengenai kemunculan anak buaya di rumahnya di Kampung Balik Batu, Tanjung… pic.twitter.com/Ve8TX0ZRqC
READ MORE: “Ingatkan Biawak” – Wanita Warga Emas Terkejut Digigit Anak Buaya
Baby Monitor Lizard Vs Baby crocodile
This ultimately shows that most people are confused with the differences between a baby crocodile and a baby monitor lizard.
They almost look the same but they’re definitely different once they’ve grown.

(Credit: VOA Indonesia, @sffeaaa_ / Twitter, Bernama, @IzzyKass / Twitter)
Here are a few characteristics to tell them apart.
Baby Crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus) | Baby Monitor Lizard (Varanus Salvator) |
Shorter tail with upward spikes | Very long smooth tail |
Don’t flick their tongues | Flick their tongues |
Longer thinner snout | Shorter snout |
Always show off its sharp teeth | Teeth are hardly seen |
Black spots on their body | Yellow spots on their body |

(Credit: natureismetal / Reddit )
Just a bonus info, baby monitor lizards are the ones usually scaring your butt off as they often travel through the pipes and yes, come out from your toilets.
Baby crocodiles are known to travel through drains too but so far, there has been no news about it attacking someone’s butt in the toilet.
Here are a few more pictures to keep you squirming and twitching. For the sake of education. 👀

(Credit: @mynewshub / Twitter, @kmhlvs / Twitter, APM / Facebook)

(Credit: APM / Facebook)
Well, now you know how these two similar reptiles look like. Another common trait between these four-legged, scaly-skinned creatures is that they are both dangerous, even as babies, and particularly when they grow into adults.

Be sure to call these guys if you encounter them stranded in your house.
- Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM)
- Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department
- Animal Control Unit of the Municipal Council
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
READ MORE: Kuching Man Bitten By Crocodile Saved Himself By Slapping The Creature
READ MORE: [Watch] Monitor Lizard Found At Ara Damansara Lotus’s Parking Lot, Netizens Asked Who Played Jumanji
READ MORE: Crocodile Shocks Fishermen At Sea Off The Waters Of Kijal, Terengganu
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