Overview
The earless monitor lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis) is a semi-aquatic, brown lizard native to northern Borneo. It is the only species in the family Lanthanotidae, a group related to the true monitor lizards, as well as to the beaded lizards.2]
Earless monitor lizards are around 20 centimetres in length, and have reduced eyes and limbs, a thick body, and strongly keeled scales. Despite the name, it is capable of hearing, although it lacks a tympanum or other visible signs of ears. It is a burrowing, nocturnal animal, feeding on earthworms and similar prey. In captivity, it has been known to eat squid, pieces of fish and liver. Like its closest relatives, it is oviparous, although little else is known about its reproduction.[2]
This species is very rare, and most known specimens are preserved, though these, also, are rare. The species is primarily of interest to scientists, since it is an evolutionary outgroup for both varanid and helodermatid lizards.
t is a burrowing, nocturnal animal, feeding on earthworms and similar prey. In captivity, it has been known to eat squid, pieces of fish and liver. Like its closest relatives, it is oviparous, although little else is known about its reproduction.[2]This species is very rare, and most known specimens are preserved, though these, also, are rare. The species is primarily of interest to scientists, since it is an evolutionary outgroup for both varanid and helodermatid lizards.
References
- ^ IUCN Red List and search for Lanthanotus
- ^ a b Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 156?157. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
External links
- Dr. Jessie Maisano, 2001, "Lanthanotus borneensis" (On-line), Digital Morphology. Accessed June 20, 2010 at http://digimorph.org/specimens/Lanthanotus_borneensis/.
- Family lanthanotidae in the J. Craig Venter Institute Reptile Database
Taxonomy
The Family Lanthanotidae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Genus (1): Lanthanotus
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 2 species and subspecies in the Family Lanthanotidae.
Genera
Lanthanotus
The earless monitor lizard (Lanthanotus borneensis) is a semi-aquatic, brown lizard native to northern Borneo. It is the only species in the family Lanthanotidae, a group related to the true monitor lizards, as well as to the beaded lizards. [more]
More info about the Genus Lanthanotus may be found here.
References
- ^ IUCN Red List and search for Lanthanotus
- ^ a b Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 156?157. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
Sources
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