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Varanus (Philippinosaurus)
''Philippinosaurus'' is one of the 11 subgenera of the genus Monitor lizard, ''Varanus''. The group consists of three frugivorous species endemic to the Philippines. Feeding habits Unlike other members of the ''Varanus'' genus, species belonging to ''Philippinosaurus'' are Frugivore, frugivorous. While ''V. bitatawa'' and ''V. olivaceus'' also supplement their diet of fruit with insects and snails, ''V. mabitang'' feeds exclusively on fruit. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q21439240 Varanus subgenera, Philippinosaurus Endemic fauna of the Philippines ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Varanus Bitatawa
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''. Description The forest monitor lizard can grow to more than in length, and weigh up to , or possibly more. 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. Dorsal ground coloration is black, accentuated with bright golden yellow in life, while the dorsum is golden yellow spots and flecks. News reports emphasized that males have hemipenes, paired penis-like organs.. However, all male lizards and snakes have hemipenes. Behavior ''Varanus bitatawa'' is one of only three species of frugivorous monitor lizards, along with '' V. olivaceus'' and '' V. mabitang. The diet of the Northern Sierra Madre forest monitor is reliant on the fruit of Pandan palm trees and ''Canarium''. As ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Varanus Mabitang
The Panay monitor (''Varanus mabitang'') is an endangered monitor lizard native to Panay Island in the Philippines. Unlike most monitors, it is a specialized frugivore. Distribution and habitat The Panay monitor occurs only on Panay, inhabiting remnant forests in the northwestern and western mountain ranges at altitudes of 200–1000 m. It is highly arboreal and dependent on primary forest ecosystems. Description This is a large monitor lizard with a length of , a snout-vent length of and a mass of . Conservation The species is classified as endangered by the IUCN. It appears to be greatly impacted by habitat loss, and is also a favoured hunting target. The species appears to be rare; only twelve animals have been caught since 2002. There are ongoing conservation efforts being carried out on the island. The species classification as Endangered is attributed to its habitat's extent of occurrence falling below 1,000 km^2 and an estimated occupancy area under 200 km^2, alongside a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Varanus Olivaceus
The Gray's monitor (''Varanus olivaceus'') is a large (180 cm, >9 kg) monitor lizard known only from lowland dipterocarp forest in southern Luzon, Catanduanes, and Polillo Island, all islands in the Philippines. It is also known as Gray's monitor lizard, butaan, and ornate monitor. It belongs to the subgenus ''Philippinosaurus''. It is largely arboreal and extremely shy. The population of northern Luzon was formerly included in the Gray's monitor, but has been recognized as a separate species, the northern Sierra Madre forest monitor (''V. bitatawa''), since 2010. Ecology Diet It is well known for its diet, which consists primarily of ripe fruit, especially ''Pandanus''. A number of prey items are, however, also consumed, including snails, crabs, spiders, beetles, birds and eggs. Monitors are generally carnivorous animals, which makes the Gray's monitor somewhat of an exception amongst the varanid family. Such an unusual diet may be as a result of competition over ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Monitor Lizard
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] |
Frugivore
A frugivore ( ) is an animal that thrives mostly on raw fruits or succulent fruit-like produce of plants such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. Approximately 20% of mammalian herbivores eat fruit. Frugivores are highly dependent on the abundance and nutritional composition of fruits. Frugivores can benefit or hinder fruit-producing plants by either dispersing or destroying their seeds through digestion. When both the fruit-producing plant and the frugivore benefit by fruit-eating behavior the interaction is a form of mutualism. Frugivore seed dispersal Seed dispersal is important for plants because it allows their progeny to move away from their parents over time. The advantages of seed dispersal may have led to the evolution of fleshy fruits, which entice animals to consume them and move the plant's seeds from place to place. While many fruit-producing plant species would not disperse far without frugivores, their seeds can usually germinate even if they fall to the ground di ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor
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''. Description The forest monitor lizard can grow to more than in length, and weigh up to , or possibly more. 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. Dorsal ground coloration is black, accentuated with bright golden yellow in life, while the dorsum is golden yellow spots and flecks. News reports emphasized that males have Hemipenis, hemipenes, paired penis-like organs.. However, all male lizards and snakes have hemipenes. Behavior ''Varanus bitatawa'' is one of only three species of frugivorous monitor lizards, along with ''Varanus olivaceus, V. olivaceus'' and ''Varanus mabitang, V. mabitang. The diet of the Northern Sierra Madre forest monitor is reliant on the frui ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Panay Monitor
The Panay monitor (''Varanus mabitang'') is an endangered monitor lizard native to Panay Island in the Philippines. Unlike most monitors, it is a specialized frugivore. Distribution and habitat The Panay monitor occurs only on Panay, inhabiting remnant forests in the northwestern and western mountain ranges at altitudes of 200–1000 m. It is highly arboreal and dependent on primary forest ecosystems. Description This is a large monitor lizard with a length of , a snout-vent length of and a mass of . Conservation The species is classified as endangered by the IUCN. It appears to be greatly impacted by habitat loss, and is also a favoured hunting target. The species appears to be rare; only twelve animals have been caught since 2002. There are ongoing conservation efforts being carried out on the island. The species classification as Endangered is attributed to its habitat's extent of occurrence falling below 1,000 km^2 and an estimated occupancy area under 200 km^2, alongside a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gray's Monitor
The Gray's monitor (''Varanus olivaceus'') is a large (180 cm, >9 kg) monitor lizard known only from lowland dipterocarp forest in southern Luzon, Catanduanes, and Polillo Island, all islands in the Philippines. It is also known as Gray's monitor lizard, butaan, and ornate monitor. It belongs to the subgenus ''Philippinosaurus''. It is largely arboreal and extremely shy. The population of northern Luzon was formerly included in the Gray's monitor, but has been recognized as a separate species, the northern Sierra Madre forest monitor (''V. bitatawa''), since 2010. Ecology Diet It is well known for its diet, which consists primarily of ripe fruit, especially ''Pandanus''. A number of prey items are, however, also consumed, including snails, crabs, spiders, beetles, birds and eggs. Monitors are generally carnivorous animals, which makes the Gray's monitor somewhat of an exception amongst the varanid family. Such an unusual diet may be as a result of competition over ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
