Bennett's long-tailed monitor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bennett's long-tailed monitor |
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Varanus
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bennetti
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The Bennett's long-tailed monitor (Varanus bennetti) is a type of monitor lizard. These fascinating lizards belong to the family called Varanidae. They are known for their long tails and are found on several islands in the Pacific Ocean.
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What is a Bennett's Long-tailed Monitor?
For a long time, scientists thought the Bennett's long-tailed monitor (Varanus bennetti) was the same as the mangrove monitor (Varanus indicus). They also thought it was the same as the Mariana monitor (Varanus tsukamotoi). But in 2020, new studies showed that Varanus bennetti is its own unique species.
Where Do These Monitors Live?
Bennett's long-tailed monitors live on several islands in the Pacific. You can find them in Palau, on islands like Koror, Ngeaur, and Ngcheangel. They also live on Yap and Losiap islands in the Federated States of Micronesia.
There is also a separate group of these monitors far away on Sarigan island in the Northern Mariana Islands. This group is very isolated from the others.
Are They Native or Introduced?
Because these islands are so far apart, some people thought these monitors might have been brought there by humans. They wondered if native Micronesians or German or Japanese colonists introduced them.
However, old fossils, local language clues, and historical writings show that these lizards have been on the islands for a very long time. This means they are likely native to the region. DNA tests have also confirmed this.
The group on Ulithi island might have arrived more recently. The Sarigan population is also a mystery because other nearby islands have a different monitor species. But it's unlikely humans moved them so far. Also, their genetic differences suggest they reached Sarigan naturally.
What Do They Eat and Where Do They Live?
Monitors in Palau usually live more on the ground. They find shelter in rocky areas and forests. On Ngeaur island, they are most common in the rocky limestone areas inside the island.
This is different from most other monitors in their group. Those usually hide in trees and are found more often near the coast. Bennett's long-tailed monitors mainly eat Polynesian rats, insects, and smaller lizards.
How Do Humans Affect Them?
Because people once thought these monitors were an introduced species, there have been many attempts to control or reduce their numbers. These actions could be harmful to the species' survival.
For example, cane toads were brought to Kayangel in Palau. The idea was to reduce the monitors, which were thought to be eating farm animals. But when the monitor numbers went down, there was an increase in beetles that harm coconuts.
In the early 2010s, programs in Angaur, Palau, paid people to kill monitors. Hundreds of them were killed. There have also been plans to remove the species from Losiap.
Scientists now recommend that the Bennett's long-tailed monitor should be seen as a native species. This means they should be protected and conserved.
