Giant Lizard Discovered In The Philippines

[n2doc]

Researchers Conclude Golden-Spotted Monitor LIzard Is New Species


AP Photo/National Museum of the Philippines, Arvin C. Diesmos
JIM GOMEZ, Associated Press Writer
Posted: 4:33 am PDT April 7, 2010


MANILA, Philippines -- Researchers have concluded that a giant, golden-spotted monitor lizard discovered in the forested mountains of the Philippines six years ago is a new species, according to a study released Wednesday.

The 6.5-foot (2-meter) -long lizard was first spotted in 2004 in the Sierra Madre mountains on the main island of Luzon when local researchers saw local Agta tribesmen carrying one of the dead reptiles.

But it took until last year to determine it was a new species. After capturing an adult, researchers from the University of Kansas and the National Museum of the Philippines obtained DNA samples that helped confirm the lizard was new to science.

The Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor Lizard or Varanus bitatawa feasts on fruits and snails rather than carcasses, unlike many monitors, including its larger relative, the Komodo dragon, according to American and Filipino researchers who wrote about the discovery in Wednesday's peer-reviewed Royal Society journal Biology Letters. It spends much of its time in the treetops and has unique claws that allow it to reach its favorite fruits.

"I knew as soon as I saw the animal that it was something special," Luke Welton, a graduate student at the University of Kansas and one of the co-authors of the study, said in a statement.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/23076026/detail.html#

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Wow. She's got Bachmann's eyes!

[trumad]

2. It will be populating South Florida by the end of the year.

[Johonny]

3. can't wait for the Monster Quest Episode!

[semillama]

4. You'll have a long wait; MQ got canned. n/t

[Johonny]

5. NOOOooooooooo!

Who will photograph all the squirrels now?

[Ter]

6. No way!

Are you serious? That's my favorite show! :(

[semillama]

8. Yup, it's true

To be fair, though, they were kinda running out of steam. How many shows can you do about Bigfoot, you know?

[jgraz]

7. ANOTHER reptile from the Philippines?

Wasn't one enough?