Endemic to the island of
Papua New Guinea/Irian Jaya and nearby islands, the crocodile monitor is
said to be the longest monitor lizard with confirmed individuals in private collections
over 12’. The true distribution is
probably much greater than what has been recorded so far. Very little is known of its natural history
in the wild due to the nature of the heavy rainforest where it is typically
found, although they are known to be diurnal and very arboreal. Expeditions specifically targeting the
species have returned without sighting a single individual, making funding
problematic. Most wild-caught lizards
are collected as consequence of logging operations apparently. Crocodile monitors display regional variation
in color, and perhaps size, although concrete information is in short
supply. In nature, they are thought to feed mostly on birds and mammals and perhaps occasionally fish. Species distribution map
The crocodile monitor is generally uniformly dark olive brown or black
with yellow spots/ovals and flecks on the body, legs, tail and head. The spots are usually arranged in rows
transversely across back. The head is
long and rather tall from the snout to the base of the skull, presenting a
velociraptor-like profile. In males, the
height and size of the skull is more pronounced. The teeth are long and blade-like, set in the
mouth in much the same orientation and relative length as the extinct dinosaur,
Tyrannosaurus rex, allowing for a destructive bite perhaps unrivaled in any
other reptile. Loose flaps of skin are
often seen on the sides of the throat and abdomen. The body is short by comparison with a tail
usually at least 2/3 of the length of the animal. Both the fore and hind limbs are relatively
long and powerful by comparison with the body, and are armed with long, very
sharp claws presumably needed in its arboreal habitat. The tail is long, slender, and whip-like,
somewhat prehensile, and is often curled at rest. As with most monitors, it may be effectively used in self-defense.
Conservation Status
Varanus salvadorii is listed in Appendix II of CITES. No population estimates are available. Given its large range on the world’s second
largest, and relatively undeveloped, island, it is probably as common as a top
predator anywhere else in the world and in no imminent danger at this
time. However, as has been seen in
Madagascar, it is never too late to begin conservation efforts on behalf of a
species. These need to address the
concerns of private hobbyists, institutions, and the island itself in a
productive manner.
