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3 unusual facts about Monitor lizard


Animal cognition

Monitor lizards have been shown to be capable of numeracy, and some species can distinguish among numbers up to six.

Bor Wildlife Sanctuary

The sanctuary is home to over 26 species of reptiles belonging 11 families, of which 6 species are endangered, namely, Indian cobra, Russel’s viper, Indian Rock python, Indian rat snake, Chequered Keelback and Monitor lizard.

Carrier's constraint

Monitor lizards increase their stamina by using bones and muscles in the throat and floor of the mouth to "gulp" air via gular pumping.


Battle of Sinhagad

Legend has it that Tanaji used a monitor lizard named Yeshwanti, with a rope tied around its waist for climbing up the steep vertical rock face.

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.

Peacock Monitor

The peacock monitor (Varanus auffenbergi), also known as Auffenberg's monitor, is a species of small monitor lizard native to the island of Roti, Indonesia.

Tanjung Puting

The park also features many reptiles, including crocodiles, monitor lizards, and pythons, birds, including hornbills and kingfishers, and insects, such as the giant Bornean butterfly.

Tonyong Bayawak

Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla presents Tonyong Bawayak, more popularly known as simply Tonyong Bayawak (lit. Tonyo the Water Monitor Lizard) was the third installment of the Philippine weekly mini-series Agimat: Ang Mga Alamat ni Ramon Revilla ("Amulet: The Legendary Chronicles of Ramon Revilla") aired by ABS-CBN that started on February 27, 2010 and ended on May 29, 2010.

Tripod stance

Monitor lizards such as the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) quite commonly stand on a tripod formed by their hind legs and tail.


see also

Kumi Lizard

The most recent reports both come from 1898, one describing a large reptile seen near Gisbourne, the other a huge creature akin to a monitor lizard which threatened a bushman in Arowhana before retreating into a Rata tree.