Philippines dragon-sized lizard is a new species

[moz_k2]

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actually, dili ni sya new species hehe ug dili ni newly discovered, but recently "rediscovered" since it has been declared extinct na before sa ia rediscovery..

it is the butaan or the Gray's monitor lizard, the only monitor lizard, if not in the world, that eats fruit and almost exclusively in pandanus fruits~

https://www.istorya.net/forums/scienc...ml#post6267648

click here hehe for added info~ maybe the pic is a bit different , it is because ang pic na aku gesample kay meju adult na nga specimen so dull na ngunit eto ay olive green with yellow reticulated spekles sa body same sa imu pic

murag lahi na dha bro

ang name ani kay Varanus bitatawa
check here: Dragon-sized lizard eluded science, until now - Science- msnbc.com

[moy1moy1]

murag lahi na dha bro

ang name ani kay Varanus bitatawa
check here: Dragon-sized lizard eluded science, until now - Science- msnbc.com

aw diay? hehe so newly discovered jd dae nih? hehehe sorry my bad, so nana say lain monitor lizard nga mukaon ug fruit aside sa butaan hehe tnx for this statement:

Science of the lizard
Although closely related to the slightly smaller Gray's monitor lizard (Varanus olivaceus), it remains separated from its cousin by a more than 90-mile (145 km) stretch that includes at least three river valley barriers. Genetic analysis confirms V. bitatawa is a new species, as do its coloration, scales, body size, and reproductive anatomy.

[moy1moy1]

how rich the philippines are in terms of biodiversity hehehhe

to think mau na nei third nga fruit eating lizard in the world, also the 2nd fruit eating lizard in the philippines meaning duha kabuok ang unique nga monitor lizards dreh sa atoa kay mukaon ug prutas instead of mananap hehhe

[pinoyapache]

Fruit-eating lizard found in Sierra Madre

By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:56:00 04/07/2010

Filed Under: Animals, Science (general), Conservation

MANILA, Philippines—A fruit-eating monitor lizard in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Luzon has led a team of Filipino and foreign scientists to call it a “spectacular find” and a potent symbol of the need to protect the country’s dwindling forests.

Scientists from the National Museum of the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the University of Kansas conducted over the last few years expeditions to study the reptile.

Last year, the scientists managed to collect a specimen and DNA for analysis. Recently, they confirmed that it was a new species.

Spectacular find

Dr. Arvin Diesmos, curator of herpetology at the Zoology Division of the National Museum, called the discovery of the Northern Sierra Madre Monitor Lizard a “spectacular find.”

“Discoveries of large animals are rare in the world since it has been known that all large animals have been discovered and inventoried,” said Diesmos, who took part in the expeditions that studied the reptile and first saw it in 2006.

He added that monitor lizards around the world were usually flesh-eaters. “It’s a significant find because it’s a unique animal. It only feeds on fruit and sometimes snails while most monitor lizards in the country and in the world are meat-eaters and scavengers.”

Adapted to climbing

Since it feeds on fruits, it is well-adapted to climbing trees with its sharp and curved talons.

“It is able to grow as large as it is because of a steady diet of fruits which are readily available,” Diesmos said. “Meat-eating monitor lizards are usually hunters. They have to be agile, fast and smaller. The new species doesn’t have to move much.”

Up to two meters

Northern Sierra Madre forest monitor lizards grow up to two meters long.

Through the analysis of its physical features and DNA, scientists have determined that the species is distinct but closely related to two other fruit-eating monitor lizards in the Philippines.

It is also different from the more common meat-eating water monitor lizard, locally known as “bayawak.”

“The new species is more secretive and spends most of its time up on trees in the forests of the Northern Sierra Madre mountain range of Luzon,” a description of the reptile said.

Brightly colored

Another unique characteristic of the new species is its bright yellow and black stripes and spots across its back.

“It’s one of the most brightly colored monitors. It has specks of bright yellow and ivory white. It’s not like the other monitors which are blackish and grey.”

Diesmos said that bright colors might make the monitor easy to spot by larger predators. “We think that since it’s always up in trees, its safe from predators.”

The new species is bigger than the two other fruit-eating lizards found in the country, he said.

Part of diet

The curator of herpetology said the new species was first spotted by scientists on field work in 2004 and 2005 as it was part of the diet of indigenous groups in the region.

“Nobody knew it was an undiscovered and uncatalogued species then,” Diesmos said.

In June 2009, scientists were able to obtain a specimen for DNA analysis in the United States. In December, they confirmed that it was a distinct species.

Diesmos said the scientists submitted last December a report and paper on the new species to Biology Letters, an international journal published by the Royal Society of London.

The paper has since gone through verification before it was confirmed recently that it was indeed a new species.

Preserve habitat

Diesmos said his group had yet to determine whether the species was in danger of extinction. “We are concerned about the fact that it is found in low-level forest areas that are prone to encroachment by humans.”

“It is an important species for the Philippines, especially since it is a forest species. It highlights the need for us to preserve its habitat. Otherwise, we might lose it as well as the other species. It highlights the fact that the Philippines has a very unique and very complex biodiversity,” he said.

The scientific description of the reptile and its scientific name will be published this week in Biology Letters.

Local names

Giant fruit-eating monitor lizards are believed to be found only in the Philippines. The Northern Sierra Madre Monitor Lizard is known among residents of Aurora Province as “Butikaw.” In Isabela province, members of the Agta group refer to it as “Bitatawa.”

Another fruit-eating species, the Gray’s monitor lizard, is known as the “Butaan” by people in southern Luzon, Bicol, Catanduañes, and the Polillo island group. The other fruit eating monitor lizard, found on Panay island, is locally known as “Mabitang.”

[moy1moy1]

actually, the mabitang eats both fruit and meat @ the same time hhehehe

[radiostar]

dile ni sila parehas sa komodo dragon?

[moy1moy1]

dile ni sila parehas sa komodo dragon?

dili..........parehag pamilya uo pero d parehag klase

[GOSPELofROCH]

Naa may daghang Haw dri sa amua pero dli fruit eating animal ang Haw....pero looks very much alike

[moy1moy1]

Naa may daghang Haw dri sa amua pero dli fruit eating animal ang Haw....pero looks very much alike

maybe ur referring sa common nga haw , the water monitor lizard or simply called "haw" sa bisaya or "baywak" sa tagalog hehehe varanus salvator

[pinoyapache]

dile ni sila parehas sa komodo dragon?

Komodo dragon is a giant monitor. Ang kini nga bag-o nga species moapas gidak-on sa komodo dragon.