[5] This species can be found throughout New Guinea, New Britain, the Bismarck Archipelago, Biak, Salawati, and Waigeo.

The blue-tailed monitor is also found on mainland Australia on the tip of the Cape York Peninsula.

The maximum size record of this species belongs to a male specimen collected from Cape York in 1948, with a total length of 173.5 cm despite missing its tail tip.

The tail is light blue (hence the common name of this species), which is interrupted by black cross bands.

[5] Like many monitor lizards, males fight over females and territory by standing on their hindlegs and grappling with each other.