What’s 6 feet tall, 22 pounds, and loves fruit? That’s what scientists want to know after the discovery of a man-sized, fruit-eating lizard on the Philippine island of Luzon. The remote island is home of the very rare Gray’s monitor lizard and this new species, a distant cousin of the Gray’s monitor lizard that researchers are calling by the Latin name Varanus bitatawa, or the colloquial name of the forest monitor lizard.
Researchers led by University of Kansas professor Rafe Brown have pursued the lizard since 2009, but were never able to capture a specimen. Instead they chased clumps of pandanus fruit seeds and claw scratches on trees. The species is one of three lizards that lives off fruit. Scientists have been hunting for the creature since photographs of it emerged in 2001, and have finally caught up with it thanks to the help of some local hunters. Apparently, hunters and locals say the lizard’s meat is delicious, which is probably why it’s gotten so good at avoiding attention!
Image: Monga Bay
Tags: giant lizard, man-sized lizard, dragon-sized lizard, Luzon, Philippines, Varanus, unusual animals, new species, lizards, weird science, Gray’s monitor lizard
