#monitor lizards

[inatherps]

Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus)

Observed by saskia_thomas, CC BY-NC

[hometoursandotherstuff]

[snototter]

A juvenile Rosenberg's monitor (Varanus rosenbergi) in Sydney, Australia

by Jake Meney

[arrghigiveup]

[...] there was a unique sight in the final practice session on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix when an adventurous lizard put a halt to proceedings. The curious reptile ventured onto the Marina Bay Street Circuit, running around without a care in the world while cars sped past at frightening speeds. To protect the drivers – and the lizard – the session was red flagged, meaning all drivers had to return to the pitlane while the reptile was removed. The official Formula One X account called it the “weirdest red flag ever,” while some of the drivers were clearly perplexed by the lizard. Mercedes driver George Russell could be heard asking: “What on earth is that thing?!” After his engineers informed him it was a lizard, the British driver replied: “A what?! It looks like a dragon!” As the drivers returned to the pitlane, it was left to the marshals to remove the lizard from the track so racing could continue. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/21/sport/f1-lizard-practice-singapore-spt-intl/index.html

Bonus:

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

Why build your own nest when you can just someone else's? When it comes to laying eggs, female lace monitors seek out a large termite mound, dig a small hole, and lay their eggs inside. The termites then seal up the hole; the eggs remain protected, and the mound is kept at an ideal incubation temperature. As a bonus, the hatchlings get an all-you-can-eat termite buffet when they emerge!

(Image: A lace monitor (Varanus varius) by Richard N Horne)

[antiqueanimals]

Natural History in Zoological Gardens, by Frank E. Beddard. Illustration by Winifred Austen. 1905.

Internet Archive

[platypusesforarms]

Lace Monitor 🦎 Dino Bird (2017)

The lace monitor grows to between 1.5m-2m in length, it is a dark steel grey above with pale yellow or cream bands or rows of spots. The underside is cream. The jaws and snout are usually strongly barred with yellow and dark grey. The toes are equipped with long, strong claws, which are used for climbing. The tongue is long and forked like a snake. Monitors are the only lizards that have a forked tongue.

[wonartarts]

Australia's Lost Dragon, Megalania. Varanids are the coolest animals ever don't @ me.

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