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Marbled water monitor facts for kids

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Marbled water monitor
Varanus marmoratus (KU 330731) from low-elevation, Mt. Cagua - ZooKeys-266-001-g068.jpg
On Mt. Cagua
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Genus:
Varanus
Species:
marmoratus
Synonyms
  • Hydrosaurus marmoratus
    Wiegmann, 1834
  • Monitor bivittatus philippensis
    Schlegel, 1844
  • Varanus manilensis
    Martens, 1876
  • Varanus salvator marmoratus
    — Mertens, 1942
  • Varanus salvator philippinensis
    Deraniyagala, 1944
  • Varanus marmoratus
    — Koch et al., 2007
  • Varanus (Soterosaurus) marmoratus
    — Koch et al., 2010

The marbled water monitor (Varanus marmoratus) is a very large monitor lizard. It is also known as the Philippine water monitor. These amazing lizards are found only in the Philippines.

About the Marbled Water Monitor

The marbled water monitor can grow quite long. Including its tail, it can reach up to 2 m (6.6 ft) (about 6.5 feet) in total length. That's longer than most people are tall!

Where Marbled Water Monitors Live

You can find the marbled water monitor on several islands in the Philippines. These include the Batanes Islands, Babuyan Islands, and Lubang Island. They also live in northern and central parts of Luzon, which is the largest island in the Philippines.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Marbled water monitors are oviparous. This means that the females lay eggs. The young lizards hatch from these eggs.

Similar Species

Scientists sometimes discover new species that look very similar to known ones. For example, a monitor lizard found on Palawan, Mindoro, southern Luzon, and the Sulu Archipelago was recently named a new species. It is called Varanus palawanensis. This shows how diverse the monitor lizard family is!

See also

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