monitor found new_guinea known common names monitor monitor monitor largest monitor new_guinea believed longest world verified rare cases rival exceed length world largest dragon sole member subgenus dark green body yellowish bands blunt snout long tail lives swamps coastal southeastern island feeds birds small mammals eggs wild teeth better adapted monitors seizing fast moving prey like monitors features enable breathe easily running greater stamina monitors little known reproduction development species difficult breed captivity threatened protected cites agreement hunted skinned alive drums describe monitor evil spirit climbs trees walks upright fire kills men maintain monitor gives warnings nearby taxonomy etymology described monitor female specimen snout vent length long tail measuring length generic derived arabic meaning term monitor thought come confusion german meaning warning term came corruption specific derived italian worked new_guinea later renamed monitor occasionally confused asian water monitor similar scientific names evolutionary development evolutionary development started genus originated asia million years ago migrated australia million years ago collision australia southeast_asia allowed indonesian archipelago placed species cluster lace monitor dragon study based mitochondrial dna analysis theory forth species diverged common ancestor separating new_guinea australia long distance covered fairly easily island similarities simply example evolution clade places larger australian clade large monitors species dragon lace monitor monitor sand distribution largest seven species monitors found island new_guinea occurs state indonesian region inhabits high low lowland coastal swamps areas floods rainy seasons detailed field investigation data available extent range unknown remote generally inaccessible habitat main factor preventing detailed study animal natural habitat biology morphology characteristic feature monitor blunt snout makes species look different monitor new_guinea common tree body dark green rings yellow spots tail banded yellow black extremely long twice long snout vent length long straight teeth prominent curved claws external sexual unique living species animal tail thirds longer snout vent length juveniles adults gives proportion tail animal body length hatching long sexually mature female grow possibly longest living species considerably massive heavy dragon specimens known reach length grow longer specimen reportedly measuring caught reported specimens claimed exceed second hand reports museum specimens size range known weight species reported possibly dubious report species slender large specimens comparable length dragons average size species average body mass reportedly adult specimens found weigh length weigh fairly optimistic species average size caught study weight presumably consisted largely entirely young specimens like abilities accomplished means positive pressure pump animal throat assist lung ventilation majority run breathe time carrier monitor exceptions rule development pump analogous evolution mammals lung independently scientists place species highest endurance regard suggest evolutionary relying forms breathing behavior hang branches rear legs occasionally use tail grip primary use tail weight branch tail defense captive specimens attempted whip keepers tails species occasionally seen pet trade earned reputation aggressive unpredictable known rest trees sleep ground submerged water monitors rise hind legs check surroundings behavior documented monitors known exhibit warning posture carry tails rolled according native belief warning general avoids human contact bite capable causing infection like dragon fatality reported bite woman later died infection diet teeth resemble monitor species typically blunt face slightly upper teeth long like standing vertical designed hook fast moving prey birds bats lower teeth housed wild predator new_guinea feeding birds eggs small mammals natives reported pigs deer hunting dogs prey canopy consume competition new_guinea singing dog type captive specimens known eat fish frogs chickens dog food species observed hunting prey unique fashion monitor following prey ambush stalk prey run meeting reproduction reproduction observed captivity known reproduction wild egg comprising eggs deposited october january eggs showing remarkable difference dimensions phenomenon explanation known dimensions vary weight vary laid captivity successful documented far inches long weigh like monitors colorful adults feed primarily insects small reptiles conservation status currently protected cites appendix requires permit international trade listed iucn red list endangered species act faces threats hunted skinned alive native peoples drums consider monitor evil spirit climbs trees walks upright fire kills men total individuals maintained parks united_states unknown number private collections
Varanus salvadorii