|
Monitor Lizards
Monitor lizards are lizards in the genus ''Varanus,'' the only extant genus in the family Varanidae. They are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania, and West African Nile monitor, one species is also found in south America as an invasive species. About 80 species are recognized. Monitor lizards have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. The adult length of extant species ranges from in some species such as ''Dampier Peninsula monitor, Varanus sparnus'', to over in the case of the Komodo dragon, though the extinct megalania (''Varanus priscus'') may have reached lengths of more than . Most monitor species are terrestrial locomotion, terrestrial, but many are also arboreal or semiaquatic. While most monitor lizards are carnivorous, eating smaller reptiles, fish, birds, insects, small mammals, and eggs, a few species also eat fruit and vegetation. Etymology The genus, generic name ''Varanus'' is derived from the Arabic (language), Arabic word ''waral'' [St ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Varanus Salvadorii
The crocodile monitor (''Varanus salvadorii''), also known as the Papuan monitor or Salvadori's monitor, is a species of monitor lizard endemic to New Guinea. It is the largest monitor lizard in New Guinea and is one of the longest lizards, verified at up to . Its tail is exceptionally long, with some specimens having been claimed to exceed the length of the Komodo dragon, however less massive. Crocodile monitors are arboreal lizard with a dark green body marked with bands of yellowish spots. It has a characteristic blunt snout and a very long prehensile tail. It lives among the mangrove swamps and coastal rainforests of the southeastern part of New Guinea, feeding opportunistically on everything from birds and small mammals to eggs, other reptiles, amphibians and carrion. Its large, backwards-curving teeth are better adapted than those of most monitors for seizing fast-moving prey. Like all monitors, it has anatomical features that enable it to breathe more easily when running ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Varanus (Odatria)
''Odatria'', commonly known as dwarf monitors, consists of small monitor lizards found in Australia and Indonesia. Species in this subgenus include the smallest monitor species in the world, the tiny 16 gram Dampier Peninsula monitor, but also includes some more medium sized species such as the 240 gram black-palmed rock monitor. Taxonomy ''Odatria'' was coined by John Edward Gray in 1838, albeit as a genus name. ''Odatria'' is the most species diverse subgenus of monitor lizards, with 22 different species. The subgenus also includes two species complexes represented by the spiny-tailed monitor and the Varanus timorensis, Timor monitor. Alternatively, Vidal ''et al.'' 2012 splits ''Odatria'' into two species groups represented by the spiny-tailed monitor and the black-headed monitor. In the past, tree monitors such as the Emerald tree monitor, green tree monitor have sometimes been included within ''Odatria'' as well as ''Euprepriosaurus'', but now form their own subgenus ''Va ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
