asian water monitor varanus salvator

reptile animal wildlife lizard snake turtle amphibian tortoise serpent frog grass crocodile alligator soil thailand local word water monitor insulting bad evil including persons thought bring luck people prefer call animals 'silver- -gold' avoid jinx origin offensive meaning traced back lived rural areas proximity lizards traditionally thai villagers two-story houses floor living ground designed space domestic pigs chickens dogs indonesian malay asian called biawak air prevalence simply referred biawak name sri lanka kabaragoya denoting subspecies distinct morphological features