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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
crocodile monitor, Salvadori monitor, Papuan monitor,
tree crocodile |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Squamata |
| FAMILY: |
Varanidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Varanus salvadorii |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The crocodile monitor is widely recognized as one
of the longest lizards in the world. It has a long
head and neck, and a sturdy tail that is twice as
long as its body. The monitor is mostly black with
white, yellow, or green specks or dots. It has strong
claws on its feet and folds or flaps of skin around
its throat region. |
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| SIZE: |
Adults average 2.1-2.7 m (7-9 ft.) from head to
tail; larger individuals can be as long as 3.9 m
(13 ft.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Up to 90 kg (200 lbs.) |
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| DIET: |
Carrion,
small reptiles, mammals, and bird eggs |
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| HABITAT: |
Most commonly found in lowland forest canopies and
adjacent savannahs, usually near water sources such
as swamps or rivers |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not listed |
| CITES |
Appendix II |
| USFWS |
Not listed |
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| 1. |
Monitors are the only reptiles other than snakes
to possess forked tongues. Like snakes, this tongue
shape allows for better accuracy in locating a
prey's scent.
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| 2. |
Unlike most monitors, which have curved teeth to
hold their prey, crocodile monitors have flat, serrated
teeth for slicing and tearing meat. The crocodile
monitor's bite is similar to that of a crocodilian,
hence its name. |
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| 3. |
Highly arboreal, crocodile monitors use their sharp
teeth to hold their prey in their mouth while climbing
up and down trees. Crocodile monitors use their
long, sturdy tail for balance while climbing trees,
and will forcefully whip their tails for defense. |
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Crocodile monitors have long been hunted for their
meat and skin by native Papua New Guineans. These
reptiles are also being negatively affected by deforestation
of their natural habitat and by their role in the
pet trade. |
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Brun, John F. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and
Amphibians. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications,
1974.
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Mattison, Chris. Lizards of the World. New
York: Facts on File Publications, Inc., 1989. |
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www.centralfloridazoo.org/new_guinea_monitor.htm
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| www.honoluluzoo.org/Crocodile_Monitor.htm |
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