Northern Sierra Madre forest monitor
| Northern Sierra Madre forest monitor | |
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| Varanus bitatawa | |
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| Subgenus: | V. (Philippinosaurus)
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| Species: | V. bitatawa
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| Varanus bitatawa Welton, Siler, Bennett, Diesmos, Duya, Dugay, Rico, Van Weerd, & Brown, 2010
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The Northern Sierra Madre forest monitor (Varanus bitatawa), also known by the local names bitatawa, baritatawa, and butikaw, is a large, arboreal, frugivorous lizard of the genus Varanus.[1][2] The lizard is a staple food of the Aeta and Ilongot indigenous people of the Philippines.[3]
Description
The forest monitor lizard can grow to more than 2 m (6.6 ft) in length, but weighs only about 10 kg (22 lb). "Its scaly body and legs are a blue-black mottled with pale yellow-green dots, while its tail is marked in alternating segments of black and green."[4] Dorsal ground coloration is black, "accentuated with bright golden yellow in life, while the dorsum is golden yellow spots and flecks.[1]
News reports emphasized that males have hemipenes, paired penis-like organs.[4][5] However, all male lizards and snakes have hemipenes.[6]
Behavior
V. batawaka is one of only three frugivorous lizards in the Varanidae family along with V. olivaceus and V. mabitang.[1]
The Northern Sierra Madre forest monitor specializes in eating the fruit of Pandan palm trees.[7] They spend most of their time in trees, more than 20 meters above the ground; similar species spend less than 20 minutes on the ground per week.[8]
Taxonomy and distribution
V. bitatawa is closely related to the Komodo dragon of Indonesia. It was confirmed as a new species in April 2010 by biologists from the University of Kansas. DNA analysis has revealed a deep genetic divergence between this species and its closest relative, Gray's Monitor (Varanus olivaceus), which is also a fruit-eater, but lives on the southern end of Luzon, rather than the northern end where the forest monitor lizard lives.[1]
The lizard's known range is currently limited to the Sierra Madre Forest, in the northeastern coast of the island of Luzon, Philippines.
References
- ^ a b c d Welton, L. J.; Siler, C. D.; Bennett, D.; Diesmos, A.; Duya, M. R.; Dugay, R.; Rico, E. L. B.; Van Weerd, M.; Brown, R. M. (2010). "A spectacular new Philippine monitor lizard reveals a hidden biogeographic boundary and a novel flagship species for conservation". Biology Letters. 6 (5): 654–658. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0119. ISSN 1744-9561. PMC 2936141. PMID 20375042.
- ^ "Third Quarter Topical Issue – Philippine Endemic Lizards". PHLPOST. Philippine Postal Corporation. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ Milius, S. (6 April 2010). "Scientists Name Large But Elusive Lizard" (Document). Science News{{inconsistent citations}}
{{cite document}}: Unknown parameter|accessdate=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|url=ignored (help)CS1 maint: postscript (link) - ^ a b AFP (7 April 2010). "New giant, double-penis lizard - Varanus bitatawa or monitor lizard - found on Luzon Island in the Philippines". Herald Sun. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ^ Liyu, Lin (7 April 2010). "Lizard with 2 penises found in Philippines". Xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 7 April 2010{{inconsistent citations}}
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link). - ^ "Hemipenes". Melissa Kaplan's Herp Care Collection. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
- ^ "New Lizard Species Discovered in Philippines". Leiden University Research Portal News. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ Owen, James (7 April 2010). "New Giant Lizard Discovery "an Unprecedented Surprise"". National Geographic News. National Geographic. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
External links
