Gray Tree Monitor
The Gray Tree Monitor is a large lizard from the Philippines. It is endangered because its forest home is being destroyed.
What is it?
The Gray Tree Monitor (Varanus olivaceus) is a species of monitor lizard that lives only in the Philippines. It is also called the Gray's Monitor or the Philippine Monitor. It is a large lizard: males can grow up to nearly 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weigh over 20 pounds (9 kilograms).
How old?
This exhibit is from 2024, but the species has lived in the Philippines for a very long time. Scientists are still learning about its history.
What was it like?
Young Gray Tree Monitors eat snails and crabs, but as they grow older, they switch to eating mostly fruit. This is unusual for monitor lizards, which are usually meat-eaters. They live in the lowland tropical forests of Luzon, Catanduanes, and Polillo Islands.
Why does it matter?
The Gray Tree Monitor is an endangered species. Its forest home is being cut down for farms and cities. Protecting this lizard helps protect the forests and all the other animals that live there.
Connections
Next to find
- Find another animal that changes its diet as it grows up.
- Look for other endangered species from the Philippines.
- Find out what fruits the Gray Tree Monitor likes to eat.
灰树巨蜥
灰树巨蜥是一种来自菲律宾的大型蜥蜴。由于森林家园被破坏，它正处于濒危状态。
这是什么？
灰树巨蜥（Varanus olivaceus）是一种只生活在菲律宾的巨蜥。它也被称为格雷氏巨蜥或菲律宾巨蜥。它是一种大型蜥蜴：雄性可以长到近6英尺（1.8米）长，体重超过20磅（9公斤）。
多大年龄？
这个展品来自2024年，但这个物种在菲律宾已经生活了很长时间。科学家仍在了解它的历史。
它是什么样的？
年幼的灰树巨蜥吃蜗牛和螃蟹，但随着年龄增长，它们逐渐转为主要吃水果。这对巨蜥来说很不寻常，因为巨蜥通常是肉食动物。它们生活在吕宋岛、卡坦端内斯岛和波利略岛的低地热带森林中。
为什么重要？
灰树巨蜥是一种濒危物种。它的森林家园因农业和城市开发而被砍伐。保护这种蜥蜴有助于保护森林以及所有生活在那里的其他动物。
联系
下次寻找
- 找另一种随着成长改变饮食的动物。
- 寻找其他来自菲律宾的濒危物种。
- 了解灰树巨蜥喜欢吃哪些水果。