The Monitor Lizard Corey Walz

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The Monitor Lizard Corey Walz
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Taxonomy

• Class Reptilia
• Order Squamata
• Sub-order Sauria
• Family Varanidae
• Genus and Species Varanus

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Monitor Lizard Characteristics

• Small reptiles often less than a foot long but
  may grow to over ten and weigh 350lbs.
• They are very active reptiles and may be very
  hostile.
• They are all tropical.
• They have long sharp claws and lash out with
  their tails at the slightest provocation.
• Long forked tongue they use much like a snake
  uses their tongue.

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Monitor Tongue
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Range

• Most of Africa, and the Malay archipelago of
  Australia.
• Those found in Micronesia are believed to have
  been introduced as a food source for the natives
  that settled there.
• They live in a variety of habitats from tropical
  rainforests to deserts, near rivers or in trees.

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Monitor Lizard Diet

• They eat animal eggs, other lizards, squirrels,
  crabs, fish, beetles, and nestling birds.
• They tend to swallow their food whole.
• Some can unhinge their jaws and swallow even
  larger animals.

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Monitor Lizard Diet
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Monitor Lizard Behavior

• Many hold their heads erect to appear alert.
• They intimidate predators by lashing out with
  their tails, inflating their throats, hissing
  loudly, and compressing their bodies.

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Behavior Continued.

• Most are terrestrial and are able climbers and
  fairly good swimmers.
• Monitors intimidate by opening its mouth,
  inflating its neck and hissing.
• The ribs may spread, flattening the top of the
  body, making the Monitor look larger than it is
• It often raises up on its hind legs just before
  attacking.
• Its tail delivers a well aimed blow.

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Behavior
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Reproduction and Growth
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Reproduction and Growth

• Combat between males is frequent in some species
  during mating season.
• Monitors can lay from 7 to 35 soft-shelled eggs.
• Often lay eggs in holes in river banks or in
  trees along water courses.
• Nile Monitors lay their eggs in termite nests
• Oviparous
• Life span of about 15 years.

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Adaptation

• Versatility is the key to their success, they are
  very unspecialized
• Most species can burrow, swim, climb, and run.
• Snake-like body supported by strong legs and 5
  well developed claws which aid in burrowing,
  climbing and defense.
• A protective bony sheath encases the brain which
  enables the monitor to swallow large pray without
  damage to the brain.

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Status

• Man is their main enemy.
• Their eggs and flesh are prized foods in many
  cultures.
• Not yet endangeredI think

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Sources

• http//www.chaffeezoo.org/animals/monitors.html
• http//www.honoluluzoo.org/monitor_lizards.htm