MANILA, Philippines–A fruit-eating monitor lizard in the Sierra Madre range has led a team of Filipino and foreign scientists to call it a significant discovery and a potent symbol of the need to protect the country’s dwindling forests.
Scientists from the National Museum of the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the University of Kansas over the last few years conducted expeditions to study the animal.
Last year, a scientist managed to collect a specimen and DNA for analysis. Recently, it was confirmed that it was a new species.
Dr. Arvin Diesmos, curator of herpetology at the Zoology Division of the National Museum, called the discovery of the Northern Sierra Madre Monitor Lizard a “spectacular find.”
“Discoveries of large animals
are rare in the world since it has been known that all large animals have been discovered and inventoried,” said Diesmos, who took part in expeditions that studied the animal and first saw it in 2006.
He added that monitor lizards around the world were usually flesh-eaters. “It’s a significant find because it’s a unique animal. It only feeds on
fruit and sometimes snails while most monitor lizards in the country and in the world are meat-eaters and scavengers.”
Since it feeds on fruits, it is well-adapted to climbing trees with its sharp and curved talons.
The Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor Lizards can grow up to two meters long.
“It is able to grow as large as it is because of a steady diet of fruits which are readily available,’’ Diesmos said. “Meat-eating monitor are usually hunters. They have to be agile, fast and smaller. The new species doesn’t have to move much.”
Through the analysis of its physical features and DNA, scientists have determined that the new species is distinct but closely related to two other fruit-eating monitor lizards in the Philippines.
It is also different from the more common meat-eating water monitor lizard, locally known as “bayawak.”
“The new species is more secretive and spends most of its time up on trees in the forests of the Northern Sierra Madre mountain range of Luzon,” a description of the animal said.
Another unique characteristic of the new species is its bright yellow and black stripes and spots across its back. “Its one of the most brightly colored monitors. It has specks of bright yellow and ivory white. It’s not like the other monitors which are blackish and grey.”
Diesmos explained that bright colors might make the monitor easy to spot by larger predators. “We think that since it’s always up in trees, it’s safe from predators.”
It is the third fruit-eating lizard discovered in the country. “But this one is bigger than the two others,” Diesmos said.
He said the new species was first spotted by field workers in 2004 and 2005 as it was part of the diet of indigenous groups in the region.
“Nobody knew it was an undiscovered and uncatalogued species then,” Diesmos said.
In June 2009, scientists were able to obtain a specimen for DNA analysis in the United States. In December, they were able to confirm that it was a distinct species.
Diesmos said they submitted their report and paper on the new animal to the publication Biology Letters, an international journal published by the Royal Society of London, in December of last year. It had since gone through verification before it was confirmed recently that it was indeed a new species.
Diesmos said they have yet to verify if the species is in danger of extinction. “We are concerned about the fact that it is found in low-level forest areas that are prone to encroachment by humans.”
“It is an important species for the Philippines, especially since it is a forest species. It highlights the need for us to preserve its habitat. Otherwise we might lose it as well as other species. It highlights the fact that the Philippines has a very unique and very complex biodiversity,” Diesmos said.
The scientific description of this reptile and its scientific name will be published this week in Biology Letters.
Giant fruit-eating monitor lizards are found only in the Philippines. The Northern Sierra Madre Monitor Lizard is known among local Aurora Province residents as “butikaw.” In Isabela province, members of the Agta group refer to it as “bitatawa.”
Another fruit-eating species, the Gray’s monitor lizard, is known as the “butaan” by people in southern Luzon, Bicol, Catanduañes, and the Polillo island group. The other fruit-eating monitor lizard from Panay Island is locally known as “mabitang.