Giant lizard species discovered in the Philippines (6.5 feet long)

BBC News ^ | April 7, 2010 | Matt Walker

[Free ThinkerNY]

A new species of giant lizard has been discovered in the Philippines.

The 2m-long reptile is a monitor lizard, the group to which the world's longest and largest lizards belong.

The monitor, described as spectacular by the scientists who found it, lives in forests covering the Sierra Madre mountains in the north of the country.

The striking reptile has bright yellow, blue and green skin, and survives on a diet of just fruit, yet until now it has escaped the eyes of biologists.

"It is an incredible animal," says Dr Rafe Brown, one of the scientists who describe the new lizard in the journal Biology Letters.

In the journal, the researchers describe how rare it is to find such a large terrestrial animal new to science.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Looks a like Chuckie Schumer has a twin.

[ElayneJ]

How do biologists miss a 6.5 ft-long lizard?

[wolfcreek]

Maybe it’s not *new* just resurgent.

[Jewbacca]

How is it “new” since it’s been on the menu in that area for a 1000 years.

[Jewbacca]

“How do biologists miss a 6.5 ft-long lizard?”

It had Obama’s birth certificate in its mouth.

[ken5050]

Only fruit?

[Wissa]

Looks a like Chuckie Schumer has a twin.

Nah. It's not greasy like Schumer. Looks more like Pelosi to me.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

How dare you insult that lizard!

[RightOnline]

Easy. It’s crafty. It poses as a log, long enough for biologists to have a sit and rest. When they move on.....well......there you are.

[KarlInOhio]

Only fruit?

The original prey, the merrimack lizard, has gone extinct.

[Mr. Jazzy]

Well, look at the way he(I GUESS it’s a He!) is leaning INTO the camera lens! That is probably what makes it look like Schmuckie.

[Waverunner]

Just don't expose it to radiation.

[Da Coyote]

It’s a democrat.

[COBOL2Java]

Didn’t know Carville was vacationing in the Phillipines...

[Gnomad]

why, dare we say it is an “unprecedented” discovery?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Fruit? It eats fruit?

[tickmeister]

OK, that’s a big lizard. With all due respect, I don’t call that a “giant” lizard.

[Moltke]

“The other, other white meat.”

[dangerdoc]