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Giant Monitor Lizard


Giant Monitor Lizard
Photo Information
Copyright: Satish Hanumantha Rao (satish_h) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 115 W: 0 N: 1259] (7622)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-06
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon F-100, Sigma 100-300 f/4 EX HSM, Fuji Provia 100
Exposure: f/8
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Reptiles - Monitors, monsters, & dragons 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-07-07 12:29
Viewed: 10235
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Family: Varanidae

Genus: Varanus

Species: V. bengalensis
Bengal monitor (Varanus bengalensis), also known as the Common Indian Monitor, is a monitor lizard found throughout Bangladesh and India. It measures up to 75 cm in body length with the tail about 100 cm in length. It feeds on small terrestrial vertebrates, ground birds and their eggs, arthropods and fish.

Although not uncommon, Monitor lizards are killed for their meat and skins and are threatened in many places by hunting.

The lizard is known as Guishaap or Goshaap in West Bengal and Bangladesh, and as ghorpad in Maharashtra . The lizards have strong claws and in some parts of India this has led to the myth that they can cling strongly to surfaces. A persistent myth that has little support from zoology or history is that Shivaji's general Tanaji Malusare used a monitor with ropes attached for climbing the walls of the Sinhagad fort.

While i was searching for a tiger in Ranathambore in June, i came across this fella resting in a cravase. He did not budge and took almost 30 minutes for our photo shoot and we got restless and left in search of the big predator. During June we saw as many as 16 Giant lizards in Ranathambore.
psammophis, vmukherjee has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 778 W: 67 N: 645] (6814)
  • [2006-07-07 12:38]

Bonjour,
Cet animal a été créé pour faire cette photo.
Bravo.
clnaef

Impresionan esas formaciones rocosas, así como el animalito. Enhorabuena y saludos,
www.xente.mundo-r.com/briones

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