Giant lizard species discovered in Philippines

A 180 centimeter monitor lizard, a fruit-eating reptile, has been found for the first time in the forests in northern Philippines.

The newly discovered lizard can grow to more than 180 centimeters in length, but weighs only about 10 kilograms, said Rafe Brown of the University of Kansas, whose team confirmed the find.

The main body length of the reptile can approach 100 centimeters in length, and its long tail may extend that by up to a further 100 centimeters. The lizard has dark skin covered by golden yellow spots and flecks.

The dragon-sized brightly colored species, which is called Varanus bitatawa, has been discovered in the trees of the northern Philippine island of Luzon.

Such discoveries of new large vertebrate species are very rare, especially ones that are so brightly colored.

The lizard, a new species of the genus Varanus, is skittish and able to hide from humans, said Brown in the journal Biology Letters.

"It lives up in trees, so it can not grow to a massive size," Brown said. "This thing is a fruit-eater and it is only the third fruit-eating lizard to be discovered in the world."

The researchers suggested it was a highly secretive species that never left its forests. Researchers are concerned about the future of the species.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122694&sectionid=3510212.