Two monitor lizards wrestled in the middle of the road for territory, blocking passing drivers.

Footage shows the pair of 4ft-long reptiles locked in ritual combat and standing on hind legs while their upper limbs tried to bend each other down to the ground in Phetchaburi province, Thailand on January 11.

Despite a sedan passing by, the animals were unfazed and forced the driver to swerve onto their side to pass.

The lizards only left the scene and scampered into the grassy roadside when the driver opened his window.

Monitor lizards engage in ritual combat to establish dominance and access to mates. These contests are typically highly stylized and rarely result in serious injury.

The ritual combat of monitor lizards typically begins with a series of displays. The lizards may bob their heads, gape their mouths, and extend their tongues. They may also circle each other and push each other with their snouts.

Once the lizards are ready to engage, they will rise up on their hind legs and clasp each other with their forelegs. They will then wrestle with each other, trying to push each other over. The lizards may also bite each other, but this is usually done in a non-malicious way.

The ritual combat of monitor lizards may last for several minutes, but it is usually over quickly. The loser of the contest will typically submit by lying on its back. The winner of the contest will then be able to mate with the female or establish dominance over the other lizards in the area.